PLANS to build a home in Mayland have been approved contrary to district council planning officers recommending refusal.

The proposed building is a self-build live/work sustainable bungalow on Nipsells Chase, land north of Riversleigh.

Members of Maldon District Council's south eastern area planning committee voted to approve the application on Wednesday, August 18.

It was approved as members said the home is planned for a sustainable location and will cause no harm as it cannot be seen clearly from the public footpath.

A district council planning officer told the committee the proposal was considered to be contrary to the guidance within the national planning policy framework and the local development plan due to its "inaccessible and unsustainable location" and its impact on "the character of the rural area".

Chief planning officer, Matt Leigh was also concerned approving the proposal would set a “dangerous precedent” for future planning decisions.

Mr Leigh said: "Making a decision that says walking along an unlit footpath is a sustainable location for this sort of distance I think would be a dangerous precedent."

Nick Skeens, Independent councillor for Burnham South, raised concerns about how the development would affect the rural character of the area.

Mr Skeens also said: “I think if we get into the habit of allowing single dwellings in remote areas to occur, we’re going to get a lot more of them and we’re going to have a lot of trouble controlling it.”

He continued: “I take the point others have made, if you allow a lot of smaller ones, that can create as many problems as allowing one larger one.”

Leader of Maldon District Council, Wendy Stamp said: "I don’t think it can be seen, and I think Mayland is actually a growing village whether we like it or not - like many other villages and towns in our district.”

Michael Helm, Conservative councillor for Mayland, proposed to approve the application contrary to the recommendation.

This was voted through and seconded by Brian Beale, Independent councillor for Southminster, with four councillors for, one against and two abstentions.