HUNDREDS of Holland-on-Sea residents clapped and cheered as councillors overturned officer recommendations to approve plans for up to 132 homes of Sladburys Lane.

Many, mainly elderly, were bussed in by the Holland-on-Sea-Residents Associations to hear their councillors speak out against the proposals at Tuesday’s Planning Committee meeting.

But despite the victory, council officers raised the prospect of a costly appeal, calling on councillors to come up with firm grounds for refusal.

Applicant One Property Group UK Ltd wants to build mostly houses on 8.6ha of arable land outside the settlement boundary in both the existing and the emerging local plan. Around half of the site, at greater risk of flooding would be used as open space.

Tendring Council head of Planning Cath Bicknell told the 300 present Tendring has just a 3.8 year supply of housing land, and whilst the land has been designated green gap, officers feel the scheme on these grounds alone would not overcome the economic and social benefits it would bring.

To claps and cheers, residents and councillors, reported concerns with flooding, the narrow Sladbury’s Road, environmental harm and the scheme leading to more homes.

David Emmerson of Keswick Avenue said when it rained last June a “rive of mud” from the proposed site “devastated” houses in his street and the Happy Valley Bowling Club was “a lake.”

Ward councillor Jack Parsons said the housing scheme would make flooding problems worse, would harm the slow worms living on the site, and he raised a lack of school places and GP services for would-be residents.

Coun Colin Winfield said previous plans on the site had attracted a petition of 5,000 people, schools and GPs were “full to capacity” and Sladburys Lane was too narrow for bus services.

However, for the applicant, planning agent Richard Bray said no homes would be in the flood zone, and a drainage scheme would actually reduce the flood risk. Section 106 payments would help with local school and NHS provision and there would be affordable housing.

“We appreciate the residents are passionate about the community but we have done all we can to ensure the development is delivered,” he said, to cries of “rubbish.”

Mrs Bicknell admitted flooding issues at the site, but these were not sufficient grounds to refuse the application. Neither were a lack of GPs and school places as Section 106 contributions would be made. The slow worms could not stop the scheme either.

Chairman John White warned reasons were needed to stop Tendring Council having to pay court costs for throwing out an officers’ recommendation should the scheme go to appeal.

Moving refusal, John Hones cited environmental, flooding, the area’s character and the loss of green gap.

But Mrs Bicknell said she was “concerned” as the statutory consultees raised no objections on flooding, ecology and infrastructure grounds.

“The areas where there’s a policy conflict where we could argue a strong case would be green gap and character of the area,” she added.

After the 5-0 vote, Richard Bray said he would have to discuss an appeal with his client.

“We will do that in the next couple of days and make a decision,” he added.