Controversial plans to build 280 homes on green belt land have been rejected by Thurrock Council’s planning committee.

It was standing room only in the public gallery as residents packed the chambers holding placards protesting the application, which councillor Tom Kelly called ‘one of the hardest applications to decide on’ in his time as chair.

Members seemed torn between the borough’s drastic need for housing and the importance of the region’s green belt land.

Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park ward councillor Bukky Okunade spoke against the application.

She said: “My constituents concerns focused on flood risks, excessive pollution, loss of green belt land and excessive noise. These concerns have not been addressed.”

The applicant argued the demand for housing constituted special circumstances and meant the plans should be approved.

Ben Rogers, the agent speaking on behalf of the applicant, fought jeers from the gallery during his presentation and said: “It’s acknowledged that this is on green belt land and we believe there are special circumstances that outweigh the loss.

“The fact that the proposal will meet the housing demand while also providing affordable housing and the investment of £3m in the local community should be considered.”

Cllr Ojetola began discussion and said: “Once this green belt is gone, it’s gone. When you balance this with the housing need, does that mitigate the loss? I can’t honestly say it does.”

Cllr Piccolo agreed that the plans should not be approved and claimed the special circumstances were too vague and could open the floodgates for future developers.

He said: “It we approve this on very limited special circumstances, this may have an adverse impact on further applications. I’m looking more to refusing the application because the circumstances are not very defined.”

But some members felt the need for housing was more important.

Cllr Rice said: “We are going to have to release green belt. There is no argument. Even in our own local plan, we have to build 20,000 homes.

“11,000 of these will have to be in green belt. The developers are providing the full 35 per cent of affordable homes for local people.

“We have to give due consideration to the 8,000 people on our waiting list. This would make a significant contribution towards that. We should be looking to approve the application.”

It came down to a close vote with five members voting to refuse the application while four voted to approve, much to the crowd’s relief.

Tony Coughlin of the Thurrock Park Residents Association said: “It’s a victory for common sense. It’s green belt and we need to protect we have left.”