Statement on Planning Appeal: Land South of Daws Heath Road
Cllr Warren Gibson, Deputy Leader of Castle Point Borough Council said: “This decision is deeply frustrating, particularly because a previous appeal relating to this site was dismissed in July 2024.
The fact that two appeals on the same site have reached such different conclusions demonstrates the seismic shift in Government policy that has taken place in just two years.
“This appeal illustrates the challenges local authorities face. A proposal that was previously found unacceptable has now been approved under a different policy framework. While the Inspector acknowledged that the development would cause harm, they concluded that, under the current National Planning Policy Framework, the benefits outweighed that harm.
“We know residents will share our frustration. This decision demonstrates how difficult it has become for councils to defend green spaces when the national planning balance has shifted so significantly.
“It is precisely because of this changing policy that the Council is working so hard to secure adoption of the Castle Point Plan. An up-to-date local plan is our best strategy for protecting the Borough's valued open spaces, directing development to the most appropriate locations.
“This decision illustrates why that work is so important. As we told the inspectors at the initial examination, there is no plan B.”