Plans for a greenhouse development the size of 18 football pitches are being challenged in the highest court in the country.

Yesterday (April 30) Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRA) announced it is challenging a High Court decision approving the development of a new glasshouse covering 22 acres in Paynes Lane, Nazeing.

LVRA has repeatedly opposed the development over fears that it will have a detrimental effect on the green belt and negatively impact on wildlife in the rural area.

The authority claims the council misinterpreted green belt policy and disregarded previous decisions against very similar developments.

LVRA chief executive Shaun Dawson said: “This is an industrial scale development.

“It would see an open field the size of 18 football pitches being built over with a glasshouse more than 26 feet (8 metres) high.”

Planning permission was granted to Valley Grown Salads by Epping Forest District Council in August 2014, following two decisions to refuse similar developments on the site.

Mr Dawson added: “The park is a green lung for London and the surrounding areas providing opportunities for sport, leisure, recreation and wildlife.

“This development would dominate the landscape and have a major impact on this countryside location.

“We believe the precedent which would be set if this judgment were not overturned would have very significant implications for future green belt applications in the park, the south east and the whole country.”

The High Court ruled that because the glasshouse was an “agricultural building”, it meant the planning authority has to disregard harm to the openness of the green belt.

Valley Grown Salads (VGS) already operates smaller greenhouses on land next to the proposed site and has been supported by supermarket Waitrose in its expansion bid.

Vince Russo, owner and director of VGS with brother Jimmy, has been contacted for comment.