COUNCIL bosses are devastated after plans to build 120 homes were given the green light.

Developers have been given the go-ahead for the new homes behind Gilda Terrace, off Rayne Road in Rayne.

Rayne Parish Council said the news is “devastating” after it objected the planning application.

Braintree Council originally refused outline planning permission for the development, but developer Acorn Braintree got the decision overturned after an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Rayne Parish Council chairman Ann Hooks said the decision was “sickening and heart-breaking”.

She said: “This is devastating news for all that fought and objected to the planning application.

“Unfortunately the inspector does not agree with the parish council, action group or the district council.

“It is sickening and heart-breaking when a development gets the go-ahead, when the land in question is not included the Local Plan for development and that the district council can demonstrate a five-year housing supply, meaning extra development above and beyond the Local Plan is not needed.

“It has always been our concern that approval of this application would lead to more applications on the Brook Green land, and we will continue to be vigilant on further applications submitted, because any further coalescence between Rayne and Braintree will be outrightly contested and objected to.”

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Both the parish and district council argued the land is not included in the Local Plan and the development would see Braintree and Rayne edging closer together.

Braintree Council planning boss Gabrielle Spray said: “We are incredibly disappointed with the decision made by the Planning Inspectorate.

“The inspector in this case considered the council did have a five-year housing land supply but did not agree with the council’s or the community’s view of the importance of the landscape and the role it plays in maintaining the separation of Braintree and Rayne, which is recognised by its proposed allocation as a green buffer within the Local Plan section 2. He concluded the benefits of the scheme outweighed the negatives.”