On 5 February 2026 the Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal seeking permission to build nine single‑storey bungalows on Green Belt land south and southeast of Maryvale, Catherine Road, Benfleet, Essex. The inspector’s decision upholds Castle Point Borough Council’s April 2025 refusal and prevents the proposed homes from being built on the fields in that location.
The ruling helps protect the open gap that acts as a buffer between Benfleet and Canvey Island and avoids setting a precedent that could have encouraged further urban sprawl between the settlements.
The scheme would have required demolition of existing stables to make way for the new homes. Castle Point Borough Council originally refused the application in April 2025; the developer subsequently appealed that local decision to the Planning Inspectorate.
In a decision summary, the inspector concluded the proposal would amount to inappropriate development in the Green Belt and said it would result in a “permanent loss of openness” that would harm the character of the area. The decision followed a written representations procedure and a site visit.
Local residents and the Canvey Green Belt Campaign had strongly opposed the proposal, raising concerns about increased traffic on narrow local roads and the removal of a vital green buffer between neighbourhoods. Castle Point council officials welcomed the outcome; the Echo reports Council strategic planning spokesman Councillor Tim Copsey saying the decision vindicates their commitment to protecting the borough’s Green Belt.
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