PLANS to build 89 new homes in and around the grounds of historic St Osyth Priory would be supported if it meant the full restoration of the main buildings on the site.

But Tendring Council’s Planning Committee on Tuesday decided it could not back two schemes as they currently stand, as only partial repairs are proposed.

More than 200 residents from St Osyth and Point Clear turned up to Clacton’s Princes Theatre to hear the application for 72 houses on West Field and a further 17 properties – residential and holiday accommodation – on part of the parkland.

The applicants, the Sargeant family who own St Osyth Priory, have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate over Tendring Council failing to determine the two plans. The issue is due to go before a Government Inspector at a public inquiry starting on November 15, along with other proposals for the site.

For the appeal, Tendring Council has to determine how it would have decided the application to help it build a case for the hearing.

Planning manager Gary Guiver said normally the applications would have been refused as they go against established planning policies.

But they could be considered as “enabling development” as the homes would help fund repairs to the priory buildings.

“It is all about weighing up the amount of public benefit gained against the level of disbenefits,” he said.

Councillors voted that they would have refused the two schemes for the 89 properties as they stood due to the harm to the setting and significance of the priory, the parkland and wider conservation area, were not outweighed by the benefits.

However, they further decided that if the Sargeant’s made a legal agreement which would secure a ten-year business strategy for the priory, with a role for a charitable trust and appropriate public access to the site, and reuse of the all the principal buildings and structures within the complex within ten years, the decision would be approved.

St Osyth and Point Clear ward councillor Michael Talbot said afterwards: “Enabling development is being used as a Trojan horse to build property we would have refused outright.”

But the Independent councillor saw good in the meeting providing a means to help restore priory buildings and provide homes.

Tim Sargeant called Tuesday’s decision a step forward. He said he would talk to Tendring Council to try and avoid an appeal.

Mr Sargeant said he believed the council had made a decision based on incorrect information, which he wanted to raise with the council. But he said he couldn’t say what this information was as it was still being investigated.

It would be “amazing” to restore all the main buildings, he said, but he doubted the financial viability of this.

A joint report for Tendring Council, Historic England and himself would be coming out this week addressing this issue.

Mr Sargeant welcomed the “obvious interest” the council and its committee had in the priory as committee members made a site visit on Tuesday.