The council gave the green light tonight to a proposal for 153 new homes on land in Stanford-le-Hope next to the Manorway and Victoria Road.

The planning application, which has had a number of objections from local people, has been on and off the table for nearly three years.

Several letters against the proposal were sent to the planning department and more than 60 neighbours of the site have signed a petition against it, citing flood risk and inadequate infrastructure as reason to refuse the application.

Forty per cent of the 153 homes have been put aside for affordable housing.

Councillor Hipsey said: “There are 6,000 people in this borough who have nowhere to live.

“It is very upsetting you have got this greenbelt land, with animals, and once a spade goes in it's gone forever.

“But with 6,000 people who have nowhere to live, who can’t get affordable accommodation, I feel in my heart I have to look after those people.”

Councillor Tunde Ojetola and Councillor Wheeler were among those who raised concerns over traffic, housing and the greenbelt.

Mr Wheeler said: “Rents are too high and that’s what causes homelessness, people spending half their wages just to put a roof over their heads. That’s what leaves people without homes, not building houses.”

Mr Ojetola said: “Given the number of times we have met to discuss these issues, I am surprised that the planning department just had one meeting since and gave it a thumbs up.”

In support of the application, Councillor Little said: “The application seems to be the best of a bad bunch. It probably suits the area as it is probably not going to be used for much else.”

The council voted four members in favour of the application and two against with no abstentions.