A DEVELOPMENT of 37 new homes has been given the go ahead by Thurrock Council reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The council has approved a mix of houses and flats on land adjacent to Dell Road and Orsett Road, Grays.
The 1.5 acre site is near to Oddfellows Hall Health Centre to the north, Grays Hall to the east and within 100 metres of Grays town centre and Grays train station.
The council received three objections, with concerns including additional traffic, environmental pollution, litter and smells and the possibility of excessive noise. The objectors also felt it was “out of character” with the area.
The plans include an electric substation and homes will be fitted with air source heat pumps, both of which can generate noise.
The council’s environmental health officer reviewed a submitted noise impact assessment. In terms of the impact of noise from the proposed electric substation. The officer concluded the noise generated by the substation would be below the existing noise levels and would “therefore result in no adverse noise levels.
The officer also concluded if the heat pumps were sited at the minimum 3 metre distance from the homes, noise levels would be “acceptable”.
Thurrock Council currently has less than one year’s housing supply needs, a fact which developers can use in any subsequent appeals against refusal.
Approving the scheme, planning officers said: “The Nation Planning Policy Framework states that where a council cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing land to meet the needs of its residents, the “tilted balance” in favour of sustainable development is engaged, and significant weight must be afforded to the delivery of new homes in the overall planning balance when making a decision on a planning application for housing.
“The adverse impacts of the proposal would need to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the delivery of housing. It is not considered this is the case, and the significant benefits of the proposal in this sustainable location clearly outweigh any negative effects.”
