Councillors say they have been left ‘disheartened’ after a controversial plan to build 51 “ugly” homes on a council-owned garage site was given the go-ahead.

The East Thames Housing Association plans faced the Epping Forest District ‘Extraordinary’ Council on Thursday evening (September 10), making it the first to face a full council in more than a decade.

The proposal, which was approved by majority at the meeting, will see around 40 garages demolished and the erection of 51 properties and 27 parking spaces in Burton Road, Debden.

Despite the plans having several refusals since its initial application was submitted in January, they were sent to the full council, which has not been held since 2002, following a committee meeting last month (August 5).

At the meeting, Cllr Chris Pond, who opposed to the proposal, stated three major concerns he had regarding the ‘alien and ugly’ proposal.

The Loughton Residents Association councillor said that the design was both horrible and hideous and that the four storey plans would have an ‘unacceptable effect’ on the amenities of the neighbours in Torrington Drive.

Cllr Pond also stated that the height of the development would mean the flats would loom over nearby two-storey buildings and block light from their gardens.

Cllr Leon Girling, who is also a resident living near the site, advised councillors to vote against the proposal at the meeting.

Speaking after the decision, he said: “I am extremely disheartened and I feel very let down.

“My concern as both a resident and a councillor is that residents are seriously losing faith in our political system.

“They are asked to take part in public consultations about these big plans but are then ignored.

“What really frustrates me is a huge number of district councillors do not even live in the area.

“Yet they have a say on these big developments that will affect our local people.

“All district councillors who live out of area were actually invited to look at the site and hear the residents’ concerns ahead of the meeting.

“Only one councillor out of 46 actually replied and said they would like to.

“They enter the chamber and I believe they already know what they are going to decide before they even listen.

“Councillor Chris Pond and I are both very passionate about this application.

“It is far too overbearing and I am shocked it was approved.

“District councillors who do not live around here are not listening to what the public and local businesses want.

“So we are going to continually face headache.

“Not because of local councillors, because we are doing our best to help the residents, but because of non-local councillors not listening.”