A PLANNING inspector has ruled a former garden centre can be demolished and turned into a care home despite saying it would be an “inappropriate” development.

The move will see the former Green World Plants, in Canvey Road, torn down and a 55-bed residential care home built in its place.

The application was initially refused by Castle Point Council back in November 2022 but the landowner Sheryl Howard has now won her appeal.

The Echo understands the new care home would be run by Runwood Homes.

Plans were refused by the council due to the “inappropriate” location on green belt, as well as the character and appearance of the area.

Ray Howard MBE, former long-standing Canvey councillor, previously owned the land before passing it on to his children.

He expressed his disappointment at the decision.

He said: “I am very bitterly disappointed. I opposed these plans.

“I wanted it to stay as a garden centre, I thought the garden centre served the Canvey community very well. It was run well.

“I have been notified of this decision. But I am still disappointed.

“It is now owned by Runwood Homes, who have been to see me. I am mindful they are a good company, their designs and provisions are known to be excellent.

“But I am disappointed by the decision.”

The proposed building would be on three storeys, with the upper floor being partly within the roof space.

Future occupiers would primarily be end-of-life and vulnerable clients “who could be expected to spend most, if not all, of their time at the care home”.

The planning inspectorate stated: “The proposal would be inappropriate development in the green belt which would, by definition, be harmful.

“There would also be harm to openness, in both spatial and visual terms.

“The appeal proposal responds well to the increasing local demand for specialist care accommodation. It would provide a better environment and range of facilities for future occupiers.

“Considered cumulatively, these other considerations clearly outweigh the substantial weight that I have given to the Green Belt harm by reason of inappropriateness and the effect on openness. As such, I conclude that there are very special circumstances which justify the development in this particular case.”