Housing secretary to make final decision on rejected plans to build nearly 500 homes in Essex

Housing secretary Steve Reed has called in an Essex council’s decision to reject two schemes that would have seen nearly 500 homes built near Stansted Airport.

Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the schemes at Stansted Mountfitchet and nearby Birchanger were originally recommended for approval by planning officers, with the council’s principal urban design officer describing both proposals as “exemplary and exceptional”.

But the 300-home Stansted Mountfitchet plan and its 180-home Birchanger neighbour were kicked into touch by the local council last month.

Committee members said the proposals conflicted with Uttlesford district council’s spatial strategy for growth and represented inappropriate green belt development – although the committee was told the sites can be regarded as grey belt, meaning it is on green belt land considered to be of lower environmental quality.

Developer City & Country said the council’s decision was “inconsistent” and “failed to properly evaluate” the benefits of the proposals.

The firm’s chair Tim Sargeant added: “We believe the committee failed to properly apply national planning policy and did not fully assess and consider the benefits of these schemes. This case has important implications for how planning policy is interpreted and applied.

“We are disappointed that the applications must go to an inquiry, especially as it will prove to be both costly and time consuming.”

The council said its planning committee had concluded the proposals “did not meet the planning balance” between the local development plan, national policy and other considerations.

Now Reed has said he will make the final decision with the council, which has been approached for comment, required to submit its case by 12 August. The planning inquiry is due to be held later this year.