CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 230 extra homes at a new retirement community have been given the green light after an appeal.

Think Green Land made an appeal against Maldon District Council's refusal to grant outline planning permission to its proposed development to extend the Burnham Waters retirement community.

The retirement community for people aged 55 and over off Maldon Road in Burnham includes bungalows, a care home, assisted living apartments, a community centre, medical centre, sports facilities and allotments.

Phase two of the development proposed to add 232 homes and a multi-use community building.

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It also included the construction of estate roads, footpaths and car and cycle parking.

The plans were refused by the district council last June.

The main issues were the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including to landscape, and the effect on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers in regard to outlook.

The Planning Inspectorate held an inquiry to decide the appeal.

Several letters of objection were submitted which raised several issues including the site being submitted and rejected from the council’s call for sites, a loss of privacy as well as outlook and loss of "productive arable" farmland.

The planning inspector took these factors into consideration and said the decision in the call for sites is not directly relevant to the appeal proposal.

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They also decided there would be no noticeable loss of privacy to existing occupiers and the development would not result in the loss of "the best or most versatile" agricultural land.

The appeal has been allowed and planning permission has been granted.

On the decision, the planning inspector said: "The benefits of the proposal are many and substantial.

"In particular, it would provide much needed housing, of two types where the need is particularly acute and critical, in the form of elderly persons accommodation and affordable housing."

The inspector added the adverse impacts of the proposal were limited and overall would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

They also ordered Maldon District Council to pay the costs of the appeal proceedings to Think Green Land.