A DEVELOPER has been accused of trying to “sneak” extra homes on to a controversial green belt site.

Campaigners from Save Our Spaces Billericay are angry Banner Homes submitted a planning application to build a further 19 homes on the former Billericay School Farm, in Noak Hill Road.

Billericay School sold the 1.7-hectare site to the developer for £5.5million.

Banner Homes has permission for 51 homes, after an initial application for 70 properties was rejected by Basildon Council.

But now the additional bid for 19 properties brings the number back to what the developer wanted originally, angering campaigners who fought to save the land from housing.

SOS Billericay spokesman Peter Tucker said: “First, Banner Homes planned to put 70 houses there, before those plans were withdrawn and it got permission fot 51.

“But now it wants to make changes to the plans and sneak more houses on to the site.’’ Mr Tucker added: “We need to put a stop to this.

“We need to protect the green space in Billericay, as there is only Mill Meadows and Lake Meadows park.

“They act as green space in the town at the moment.”

Councillor Malcolm Buckley was Basildon Council’s leader when the firm’s appeal against refusal of the 70 homes was submitted.

He said any plans for more houses on the land would be difficult for the developer.

He said: “There are two issues here. One is our broad objection to building on green belt land.

“The second is the fact Banner Homes successfully appealed against our original rejection.

“The inspectorate agreed it was OK for 51 homes on the land.

“But that does not mean the council would agree with any significant changes submitted by the developer.”

Banner Homes had not responded to inquiries by the Echo as we went to press.