The proposals for for the homes on land west of Glebelands next to Sadlers Farm roundabout have been leafletted across Benfleet by housing developer Gladman, with the plans including 50 per cent affordable housing, open public recreation space and sustainable drainage.
Outlining the benefits of the proposals, Gladman’s plans highlight the creation of employment opportunities, environmental benefits through planting initiatives and helping to meet housing need for the area.
A spokesperson for The People’s Independent Party in Castle Point said: “Property Developers Gladman are promoting their intention to apply for planning permission to build a housing estate on the green belt land at Glebelands in Benfleet.
“If an actual application for planning permission comes in there will be an opportunity for residents to respond with their views.
“As we are all very aware property developers keep making speculative attempts to concrete over our green belt.
“All the more reason to back the Castle Point Plan which honours residents wishes to not have building on any green belt in the borough including Glebelands. Please participate in the Castle Point Plan consultation.”
The leaflets seeking to gauge opinion on the development – which has not seen a formal planning application submitted yet – have been viewed as a symptom of a broader vulnerability in Castle Point by campaigners due to a current lack of sites in a local plan.
Martin England, member of the Save Hadleigh Farmland group said: “This is typical. Glebelands is probably the longest running development in the area and it is where these kind of speculative developments are going to be so rife.
“Without a local plan greedy developers are just going to start picking sites like this off, they are just pushing their luck because they know if they can get something going now before there’s a local plan in place there’s a good chance they will be successful.
“If I was in Glebelands I would be extremely concerned that the land has been categorised as grey belt and these developers are chancing their arm.
“The council need to select some realistic sites for development rather than picking a fight with the Government that they are not going to win.”
