The chairman of Mistley Parish Council says he is ‘appalled’ by a planning inspector’s decision to give the go-ahead for 67 homes within a conservation area in the village.

Tendring District Council had rejected the application for the development, on land off New Road, in April saying the new homes would erode the green gap between the village and nearby Manningtree and would harm the conservation area.

The applicants took it to appeal and a planning inspector this week gave the development the green light.

However, the inspector rejected an argument from the developer that the council could not demonstrate a five-year supply of housing, confirming the council could show an effective supply.

The development has been fiercely opposed by both Mistley Parish and Manningtree Town councils from the start.

Martin Rayner, chairman of Mistley Parish Council said: “We are appalled at this decision.

“This is typical of inspectors appealing to national planning rules which tilt the development in favour of the developers.”

Resident Michael Scargill, who lives close to the site, said: “I think it is a seriously bad decision and I am surprised it got made.

“I, along with nearly 200 people, lodged objections when the application was first made and filed an objection with the planning inspector when it was appealed.

“With the particular area we are talking about it is not the case that we do not want any new building there because there are already a lot of developments taking place with 600 houses just up the road,

“It is because it is a conservation area and a strategic green gap.

“This decision means these local planning decisions are being taken away from Tendring and given to Westminster.”

He added it was concerning the site got the green light despite the district council proving they had a five year land supply for housing.

A Tendring District Council spokesperson said: “Tendring District Council is disappointed with the decision of the Planning Inspector, particularly as he appears to have gone with an ‘on balance’ decision rather than finding that the Council made any errors in its judgement of the application.

“The Council is now looking at potential next steps with regards to the application.”