By Local Democracy Reporter
HUNDREDS of residents are urging the council to refuse planning permission for a development of more than 160 homes in Tilbury.
A total of 687 residents in Thurrock have signed a petition and written letters to tell the council not to allow a developer to build 161 homes on land that is part of the Little Thurrock Marshes in Tilbury.
The plan would create 87 three-bed homes and 18 two-bed homes sold at market price, along with a further 56 ‘affordable’ homes that will range from one-bed flats to four-bed houses.
Developer Nordor Holdings states in planning documents that the plans will help “regenerate” the area and “transform a private, inaccessible site with poor quality landscape into an attractive community”.
But residents have said it would only increase traffic congestion, put a strain on infrastructure and result in more pollution. Council papers show that 27 letters of objection have been sent to the council and a further 660 residents have signed a petition.
The council’s planning team have also assessed the proposals ahead of a planning committee meeting on Thursday and recommended permission is refused.
A report shows council officers are particularly concerned about the development being built on green belt land, which they say would only be permitted if the benefits clearly outweighed the harm.
“The proposals are considered to constitute inappropriate development with reference to policy and would by definition by harmful to the green belt,” officers concluded.
Despite the recommendation, it will be down to councillors to decide on whether the plans should be given the go-ahead. In recent months, there has been debate over whether building on the green belt is a strong enough argument.
At a meeting in February a major redevelopment of Langdon Hills Golf and Country Club, on Lower Dunton Road, was given planning permission when councillors went against the recommendations of the planning team.
Members of the planning committee justified the decision by pointing out that the priority should be on supporting the elderly. Similarly, the council is under significant pressure from the government to build more homes and to meet targets, developments will need to be built on green belt land.
