Councillors must take a "short term" view of new housing while the wait for a proper five year plan goes on, it is claimed.

The call came from Colne Engaine resident Jessica Bond during a full Braintree Council meeting on Monday.

Ms Bond bemoaned the decision made in July to grant planning permission for 90 new homes to be built on land off Station Road, Earls Colne, and warned the development will have serious consequences for the surrounding countryside.

Speaking during public question time, she said: "Apart from Gladman Developments, the farmers selling his land at a premium and Earls Colne Recreation Club who will receive a windfall of in excess of £90,000 from the developer, nobody wanted this development.

"This development will alter an ancient village boundary and alter the geographical relationship between two neighbouring villages forever.

"And because our councillors are unable to put together a five year plan, opportunistic developers will now build on land

designated a dark valley to protect our wildlife and alter the village boundary. Neither of these consequences will be reverted."

Ms Bond warned the council's desire to reach a long term housing plan for the district meant it was overlooking speculative planning applications for vulnerable rural areas.

She added: "Short to medium term planning is the much needed approach because there is this inability to create a five year housing plan.

"Houses are being built around the edge of existing towns and villages. Existing communities and those who will be moving into new homes will be badly served by a paucity of infrastructure."

"At the moment, Braintree Council's planning department is altering the landscape of rural Essex forever."