A DEVELOPER hopes to build 250 homes on green belt land in Benfleet.

Building company Persimmon Homes wants the homes to be built on Jotmans Hall Farm, off Jotmans Lane, Benfleet.

This comes after the company’s previous negotiations with the council to build 600 homes on the site caused a massive public backlash.

Overwhelming opposition to building on Jotmans Farm was a key factor in forcing Castle Point to scrap its long-term development strategy for the next 15 years, known as the Local Development Framework, which supported developing the site. Councillors claim since there is no housing strategy in place at present, companies are trying their luck to get developments approved before another development framework is completed.

Ian Harding, 47, of Elmhurst Avenue, Benfleet, said: “There is going to be massive opposition to these proposals.

“These companies know what they are doing.

“They will not just submit applications on a whim as they cost huge amounts to draw up, so we need to protect these sites right from the off.”

Councillors have since been calling for local residents to come forward and suggest potential brown field sites, such as car parks, which could be redeveloped to take the pressure off green belt land.

Brian Wilson, a former Benfleet councillor for Labour, said: “This is one of the last places we should be intruding on to build homes, while there are plenty of brown field sites available.”

He added the farm is situated on good quality agricultural land, and the country as a whole is going to need agricultural land in the future.

Andrew Sheldon, Tory councillor for St Mary’s ward, said: “I cannot comment on individual applications, but I have serious concerns about developments taking place on the Jotmans site.

“I will be consulting with a former town planner and an experienced barrister to try to pick apart the evidence suggesting this is a suitable site for development, because I do not believe it is an appropriate location for new homes.”

Persimmon Homes refused to comment when approached by the Echo.