CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a £15million hospice on green belt land look set to be turned down.

Planning officers at Southend Council have recommended councillors reject Havens Hospices’ bid to develop a Salvation Army site off Belton Way West, Leigh, when they meet on Wednesday next week.

Officers are calling for the charity to lower its sights and say its need to move from its current Fair Havens adults hospice in Second Avenue, Westcliff, is not pressing enough to justify the development.

They conclude Havens has left itself with only one option – building on green belt – by setting its standards too high for the proposed 16-bedroom centre.

Andy Lewis, the council’s corporate director of enterprise and the environment, said: “It is accepted a need for increased capacity in palliative care services exists within the area.

“The proposal, however, goes beyond this and constitutes an aspiration to create a ‘centre of excellence’. This is a laudable aim, but is not considered ‘very special circumstances’.

“The proposal is therefore contrary to green belt policy.”

Although the final decision will rest with councillors, the planners’ views could bring an end to Havens’ two-year struggle to convince doubters it should be allowed to use green belt for its new hospice.

Under planning law, applicants who want to build on green belt must prove there are “very special circumstances”.

Havens argues its need to move from its current base, which cannot be expanded any further, there is a lack of alternative sites and its sympathetic plans for Belton Way West would justify the development.

But the council officers said the charity had not properly considered other possibilities, citing land at Fossetts Farm and the derelict Esplanade House, in Eastern Esplanade, Southend, as prime candidates for a hospice.

They also rejected Havens’ suggestion that its current Fair Havens base was no longer fit for purpose.

Last month, the charity’s chief executive, Andy Smith, warned the hospice was rapidly becoming archaic and in danger of failing tough Government inspections.

But Mr Lewis pointed out the last Care Quality Commission inspection in July had found the hospice met all the required standards.

He said: “There is no evidence suggesting imminent danger of it being closed.

“This may allow for more time to pursue sites outside the green belt.”

A final decision will be made by members of the council’s development control committee.