COUNCIL planners say they had “no room for manoeuvre” before giving the go-ahead to 55 homes in Halstead.

The application from Orchestra (Mount Hill) received outline consent for up to 55 homes on land at Mount Hill at a meeting last week.

The application was originally for 130 homes, but negotiations reduced this to 73, and then to 55.

Planning committee member Andy Munday (Halstead Residents’ Association, Halstead Trinity) said: “All the facilities of Halstead yet gain will be used for all 55 homes with no recompense to Halstead in terms of council tax rebates.

“The problem we have is there are no statutory authorities raising any objections to this application and sadly that puts this application with the precedent set in other applications nearby.”

Braintree Council has voiced its frustration with the national planning system and the need to show it has a five-year supply of land for housing.

Council planning boss Gabrielle Spray said successful recent appeals against the council's refusal of developments and highways saying the junction is acceptable left the council with no other option but to allow the application.

She said: “I am going to move officer recommendations for approval because I think we have to make a decision this evening and I don’t think we have room for manoeuvre.”