Opposition is mounting to a plan to build 45 homes on greenbelt land, with villagers insisting the countryside must be preserved.

The proposal by multi-millionaire Giovanni Abella, a director of firm Salad UK, which supplies vegetables to major supermarkets, includes 45 homes on land he owns in St Leonards Road, Nazeing.

The plans also include a large building which could be used as a leisure centre or cinema, parking spaces and other amenities.

But a petition has been started against the proposal and residents who gathered this morning to voice their concerns have begun writing to the council to object.

Neil Raven, 33, of St Leonards Road, said: “It is wrong to develop green belt land full stop.

 “We are a village. There is nowhere near enough infrastructure to support that many houses.”

Lilian Usher, 77, of Tutsfield Avenue, is also against the plan.

She said: “The traffic is already mad around here and it will only get worse.”

But Pasqualle Milazzo, the landowner’s father in-law and representative, insisted the development would help the village.

He said: “We can do whatever we want. We have taken advice from planners and if the council decide to decline our proposals, we will continue to appeal.”

The consultation on the plans ends on November 7, with a final decision expected after Christmas.

For more on this story, see next week's Guardian - out Thursday.