A PLAN to build 269 homes in the green belt is set to be refused after concerns were raised over pollution and noise.

Basildon Borough Council's planning committee voted down officers' recommendations to green-light Bloor Homes' proposals in Dunton at a meeting on Wednesday (19 April) evening.

Formal reasons for refusal, predominantly over the scheme's "inappropriate" location in the green belt and potential impact on noise and pollution levels from extra cars on the roads, will be voted on at a later committee meeting.

The application was deferred from a previous meeting in March, after claims by Labour Councillor Alex Harrison (Lee Chapel North) Bloor Homes had donated more than £1million to the Conservative Party.

Committee chair Carole Morris (Con, Wickford North) said at the latest meeting no local Conservative associations had benefited.

A spokesperson for Bloor Homes said in an earlier statement they were "disappointed" by the events.

The developer is arguing the proposals meet the very special circumstances required for housing to be built in the green belt, as the application would provide above-policy levels of market and affordable housing. Basildon Borough Council can currently only demonstrate a 1.89 year housing land supply, according to a report.

Alex Clark, design and technical director at Bloor Homes, said: "We believe, along with your professional planning officers and legal team, that there are very special circumstances for delivering this scheme, where there is minimal harm balanced against significant public benefits."

The meeting was packed with residents who had turned up to watch the debate. One of them, named as Scott Gibson, criticised a description of the site in a landscape and visual impact assessment as an "unremarkable arable field." 

He told the committee: "I'm incensed to hear our surroundings being described as unremarkable."

Cllr David Dadd (Con, Billericay East) said World Health Organisation standards for air and noise quality would not be met.

He said: "What type of environment are we permitting or would we permit should we allow this development to go forward?" He later said: "I do have some concerns. I do believe the development is inappropriate development because it is harmful to the green belt."

Cllr Patricia Reid (Labour, Pitsea North West) said: "I do applaud the 36 per cent affordable housing in this application, but I also ask the question what is affordable housing? I still do not think these would be affordable to a lot of our residents in the Basildon borough."

The site was previously allocated in the council's local plan, which was withdrawn last year.

In addition to the homes, the application is also seeking permission for vehicle access off Dunton Road, open space, landscaping and an acoustic barrier.

According to a design and access statement, the proposals would maximise walking, cycling and public transport and encourage opportunities for home working and community interaction. A section read: "The new proposed development, not only responds to people's desires to live in a quality home but provides a whole new way of life, one that's sustainable, healthy and community focused.

"As the development evolves it will continue to provide contemporary family homes of all sizes and tenures. Housing is focused around an attractive high quality central open space which provides an area of play along with a place for social gathering for all residents to enjoy."

The committee voted against to defer a final refusal decision to a later meeting, after formal reasons for refusals have been drawn up by officers.