PLANNERS are recommending approval for up to 49 homes on land south of Frinton Road in Thorpe.

The issue will come before a meeting of Tendring Council’s Planning Committee on Tuesday.

The site covers two plots, divided by Hall Lane, on the western side of the village.

The outline application from Drury Investments concerns 5.2ha outside the defined settlement boundary of Thorpe.

Councillors, rather than officers, will determine the application as the proposal departs from the Local Plan.

District Councillor Dan Land has also called for it to be determined by the committee.

The ward councillor said he will speak against the application, noting part of the site is in the conservation area of Thorpe Hall.

“Part of this development is in a protected conservation area with important trees and a highly developed habitat. The additional access roads will bring increased traffic to an already saturated road network,” he told the Gazette.

A report prepared by Head of Planning Cath Bicknell reported 79 objections to the proposal but support from Thorpe Parish Council.

However, Coun Land, who is also chairman of the parish council, said since members voted to recommend the scheme, several councillors had since changed their mind and now opposed the application.

“Certain councillors have rethought the situation,” he commented.

The council report, however, recommends the scheme saying that although the situation has improved, Tendring Council cannot yet demonstrate it has a 5-year housing supply.

The site is judged “sustainable” with Thorpe identified as a “Rural Service Centre” with “potential for limited growth in homes and jobs.”

“Taking into account the location as part of the site being within the Conservation Area and close to an area of Registered Landscape when weighing the planning balance, Officers are recommending that the scheme does meet the requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework and can be approved,” the report added.