PLANS for a new “care village” including a 70-bed care home, 42 assisted living homes and 13 retirement bungalows have been approved on appeal.

Basildon Council fiercely opposed plans for the retirement village on green belt land off Ilfracombe Avenue, in Bowers Gifford, and rejected the application.

However, developer Metro Property Investments launched an appeal with the Government’s planning inspectorate and the plans have now been given the green light.

The plans were rejected after objections from neighbours and fears over the loss of green belt land.

Craig Rimmer, councillor responsible for the Pitsea South East ward, has been left furious by the decision.

He said: “This just shows how broken our planning system is at the moment unfortunately.

“The green belt has a purpose - this is the most strategic green belt going and the planning inspectorate has gone against the principle of green belt, which is a long-held tradition in this country to stop urban sprawl.

“The planning inspectorate has given the green light to urban sprawl. There is no consideration for the community. It is a very backwards decision.

“We are democratically accountable, we can be voted out, but you can’t vote the planning inspectorate out.

“Location is a huge part of this. We understand it could be a great facility for those residents, but it is totally in the wrong location.”

Before plans were refused by Basildon Council, a total of 19 neighbouring properties objected to the plans, raising several concerns.

These included “inappropriate development in the green belt”, “scale of development would appear overbearing”, and “issues of noise, dust, and other pollution resulting from the development”.

A petition with 46 signatures from 35 addresses was also received objecting to the proposed development.

As part of the plans there will also be a new nature area, a new parking area for St Margaret’s C of E Primary School, as well as communal facilities, including a day care centre and cinema room.