PLANS that could have led to improvements on one of Billericay's most congested junctions have been rejected. A revised proposal to build 910 houses east of Southend Road and south of Coxes Farm Road stretching to Barleylands Road had been recommended for approval by officers.

But councillors on Basildon Borough Council decided the plans would be inappropriate development on the green belt. The plans could have seen an improvement to Sun Corner under conditions set out from Essex County Council – this sets out that no more than 300 dwellings shall be occupied until the signalised improvement of the Sun Street, Laindon Road junction.

This should include pedestrian crossing facilities, carriageway widening and resurfacing works. These works had been included as part of conditions in a proposal to build 420 houses west of Laindon Road adjacent to Frith Wood and Laindon Common – which were refused by the planning committee in August.

Should that be dismissed at appeal then Foot Farm plan would be the fall back position to fund it. However there were concerns that the works would be undeliverable due to size constraints.

There were also concerns that a bus strategy may not be forthcoming if another separate development does not happen. The council can only demonstrate a land supply of around two years – well below the minimum statutory requirement of five years.

Gavin Taylor, from Billericay, said: "I strongly object to this application For up to 910 homes. This is not simply a housing development It represents a major irreversible expansion of Billericay into open countryside.

"The council's own 2025 green belt review identifies all four land parcels as making a strong contribution to preventing urban sprawl with two also making a strong contribution from preventing neighbouring settlements from merger.

"It is not previously developed land, the site does not qualify as grey belt under the council's assessment. There is therefore inappropriate development in the green belt causing permanent harm. A shortfall in the five-year housing land Supply Does not automatically justify sacrificing cgreenbelt protection."

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Councillor Sam Journet said: "57 hectares of open space, 37 hectares of agricultural farmland is going to be concreted over – it's just not something that I could vote for. It's inappropriate development in the greenbelt. This site also helps prevent urban sprawl."

A statement on behalf of Obsidian Strategic said: "Land East of Southend Road is a new neighbourhood to the existing Burstead and Billericay community with high quality new homes and a primary school with early years provision linking to the well-established and well-used local amenities at Barleylands Farm Park to the south.

"A high quality, landscape led design for this new neighbourhood will provide much needed new housing across a variety of house types to support Basildon's ambitious growth aspirations and to deliver a wide range of housing to meet the needs of local residents.

"The homes and streets of this new neighbourhood for Billericay will be inspired by the existing housing in Billericay and Burstead, so that this extension knits in with the local character of the area. Billericay is a much sought after place to live because it has excellent links to nature.

"This new neighbourhood will be inspired by that healthy lifestyle choice and the new homes will be set in beautiful surroundings designed to respect and improve the existing natural features of the area through improved native tree and hedgerow planting. Residents will continue to enjoy the woodland to the north of the Site which will be enhanced as the centrepiece of a new Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) including the existing stream running through the north of the Site.

"New opportunities will be provided for children to enjoy natural play and access to open space, all which support residents to achieve higher standards of health and wellbeing. Ideally located within walking distance of both local shops in Burstead and Barleylands, this proposed extension will support existing businesses in the area with new customers.

"It will create new safe green routes through the neighbourhood, not currently available on Southend Road, thus improving opportunities for safely walking, cycling and using other sustainable ways of travel for existing and new residents. This new proposal is the ideal opportunity for a new green neighbourhood in Billericay building, on the successes of what makes Billericay and Burstead a great place to live already and improving the connection to local amenities at Barleylands through beautiful new green corridors, open to be enjoyed by all."