Another attempt has been made to build on Green Belt land long earmarked for housing.

Stonebond Properties Ltd has sought permission from Epping Forest District Council to build 27 houses on High House Farm in Stapleford Abbotts.

Since 2006 the land has been a target of developers, with two applications for smaller developments approved.

Neither was enacted upon however, leaving the land in the empty state it is in today.

The more recent, 2014 development for seven five-bed homes was binned after the spiralling cost of cleaning the contaminated field proved too expensive.

Now the developers want to drain the land and squeeze a combination of one, two, three and four bed properties onto the same floorspace as the previous plan.

The application reads: "The proposals, provide a positive use for the site which has remained in a derelict state with significant contamination both of which will be remedied in this proposal enhancing the natural environment.

"The proposed development provides significant ecological benefits, through creation of new ponds and habitats to encourage enhancement of protected species, leading to significant ecological enhancements and benefits throughout the site as set out within the submitted ecological and landscape statements."

The plans also propose seven of the 27 houses would be affordable.