A garden centre near Brentwood has won a fight to stay open despite development plans.

A proposal to develop Ongar Garden Centre into commercial, industrial, and office spaces had been recommended for approval despite huge public opposition and legal wranglings over a future lease.

An outline application to Brentwood Council suggested that developing the site, in Langford Bridge off Ongar Road, into a range of commercial buildings could support around 150 jobs.

But this figure was questioned by a planning inspector, who says no occupier has been identified. 

He added the plan would amount to inappropriate development in the green belt in his dismissal of an appeal launched against the failure of Brentwood Council to determine the application within the required period.

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He said: "The proposal would result in a significantly greater impact on the openness of the green belt than the existing development. Mindful of the framework, I attach substantial weight to the green belt harm."

While the council indicated that officers would have approved the application, other parties, including Kelvedon Hatch Parish Council and several residents, opposed the move.

The council received almost 600 objections to the proposals, many arguing that the plans would increase congestion on the A128 and lead to the loss of a well-used social hub.

The planning application argues that the site “has been through some difficulty” after former tenants Wyevale Garden Centres were liquidated.

However, British Garden Centres has operated there since 2019 when that company took on some of Wyevale’s outlets.

British Garden Centre has said it intends to stay and has lodged a court application for a 25-year lease.

The landowners had said they needed to secure a “future-proof plan” for the site, and this location for the development is also thought to offer a “perfect opportunity for a clean slate".

But hundreds of people have written arguing the application should be rejected by the council – as was a previous planning application for a similar proposal last year – over their concerns about road safety and a loss of a valuable community asset.

The inspector said in his report: “The appellant states that the proposal would employ up to 150 people. No occupier has been identified, and that figure is no doubt based on standard employment densities. In my view, it should, therefore, be treated with a degree of caution.

“On the other hand, interested parties have expressed concern about the loss of existing jobs at the garden centre. That would represent a negative economic impact. 

"Nevertheless, I consider that the proposal would result in a net uplift in the number of jobs at the site. That would be an economic benefit to which I attach moderate weight. 

"I conclude that there are no other considerations that clearly outweigh the harm to the green belt. It follows that the very special circumstances required to justify development in the green belt do not exist."