The Government has given the full go-ahead for a controversial 238-bed retirement village.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire MP revealed he will not review plans for the complex, off Maldon Road in Burnham, after permission was approved by Maldon District Council

A spokesman for the council said: “The secretary of state has decided not to call in the application and that he is content for the application to be determined by the local planning authority.

“The reason for this decision is that, having regard to the policy on call-in, the application does not involve issues of more than local importance justifying the secretary of state’s intervention.”

Ian Holloway, project manager at Think Green Land, the developer behind the plans, was delighted when he received the news.

He said: “The secretary of state considered the call-in and has responded via his planning casework manager that because the application does not involve issues of more than local importance justifying the secretary of state’s intervention that it should be referred back to Maldon.

“Therefore, the local planning authority remains the relevant authority responsible for determining this application.”

The elderly ‘utopia’ consists of 103 bungalows, a 70-bed care home, 55-unit independent living building, medical centre and leisure facilities.

Controversy has surrounded the proposed community for some time, with criticism being raised about the location of the site, which is outside the agreed development boundary in Burnham.

Essex County Council had said the development should be in the Maldon area instead.

Campaigners against the plans have made their voices heard since the council approved the plans, including Burnham town councillor Nick Skeens, who penned a letter to Mr Brokenshire calling for their “ultimate rejection”.

But Mr Holloway added: “As we have previously stated, we are committed to collaborate with all stakeholders as we move forward to ensure that we deliver an environment that the local community can be proud of.”