An Essex council has delayed a decision over 90 houses planned in countryside near Stansted Airport, despite fears the authority could remain in special measures “indefinitely” if more developments are not approved.

Uttlesford District Council’s planning committee was divided over the application by Welbeck Strategic Land for outline permission for The Squires development, Stortford Road, voting down motions to approve and refuse the scheme before settling on a deferral on Wednesday.

Councillors expressed concern the proposals could contribute to the erosion of the Countryside Protection Zone (CPZ), a belt of countryside around Stansted Airport intended to mitigate its impact on nearby towns and villages.

Read more: Council to vote on 90 new homes in countryside near Stansted Airport

But Cllr Judy Emanuel (Residents for Uttlesford, Newport) warned the council, which was designated earlier this year, would remain in special measures until it can meet its housing targets.

She said: “17,000 houses have to be built in this district and that’s what the Government are making us do.

“It’s not what we would choose, it’s not what we would like, but that is the situation we’re in and unless we meet our five year housing land supply we’re going to continue to be in designation indefinitely.”

The council was designated due to a significant proportion of its decisions on major applications being overturned at appeal between 2018-2020, meaning developers now have the option of applying directly to the planning inspectorate.

Read more: More than 100 homes for Takeley land near Stansted Airport

Jennifer Liu, Welbeck Strategic Land, told the committee the benefits of the proposal, including contributing to the local economy and providing a net gain in biodiversity, outweighed its potential harm.

She said: “This conclusion should not come as a surprise because the site is located close to a range of local facilities, services, public transport and other amenities.

“These day to day facilities and services can be accessed on foot and cycle, with bus services enabling access to higher order facilities and job opportunities in Great Dunmow, Bishop’s Stortford and Stansted Airport.”

Councillor Janice Loughlin (Liberal Dem and Green Alliance, Stort Valley) said: “This is another example of losing some of our precious countryside because we don’t have a five year housing land supply.

“But that doesn’t mean to say we have to ruin the district to put houses on everywhere that is now suitable”.

Several applications have been considered for areas in the zone this year, most recently two applications totalling 243 homes in Takeley.

The committee also decided it needed comments from landscape officers, discussions with the parish council over financial contributions from the developer, and more detailed comments from the environment agency in order to make a decision over this current scheme.

Residents also appeared at the meeting, expressing their objections.

Gregory Cook, who lives near the site, said: “This, in my opinion, is a thinly-veiled commercial venture submitted by the applicant, taking advantage of the current disarray in Uttlesford District Council.”

The committee will make a decision on whether to allow the scheme at a later meeting.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Meeting and agenda: https://uttlesford.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=138&MId=5985