THURROCK Council’s bill for trying to protect its precious green belt land from developers totalled more than £87,000, it has been revealed reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The council lost an appeal to the planning inspectorate over a development in Linford, East Tilbury of up to 830 homes if the Lower Thames Crossing is constructed or 1,000 homes if it does not go ahead.
Developers Mulberry Strategic Land warned Thurrock’s planning committee the new Labour Government would be likely to overturn a decision to refuse the homes over their green belt location.
Despite employing a costly King’s Council for the three day hearing, failed to successfully defend itself against the development.
Mulberry appealed on the grounds that Thurrock Council did not determine the planning application “within the appropriate period”.
James Pereira KC was appointed at the council’s barrister for the public inquiry and advised throughout the process.
Despite the council facing a £3million deficit, Fraser Massey, Independent councillor for east Tilbury defended the decision to fight the case. He said: “The developers also had a Kings Counsel present so I feel the council always need to protect against greenbelt building in whatever method is appropriate.
“In this case the council’s position was not successfully defended but despite the cost I feel we should always try and protect the greenbelt wherever possible.”
Lee Watson, councillor responsible for good growth, spoke of her “bitter disappointment” following hearing. She added: “The truth is that is the Conservatives – who were running the council when this application was received – completely failed to even bring it before the planning committee, meaning the decision was taken out of our hands. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
Following the planning committee decision to refuse the application in July, the council said officers had to deal with 213 emails from the developer’s appeal team offering evidence and new information.
Despite the complicated and costly fight by the council the planning inspector said: “The proposal would deliver market and affordable housing in an area with an extremely poor record of delivery of both, with no signs of this improving in the future. I have attributed very substantial weight to this.
“It would deliver what is agreed to be a much-needed bridge over the railway line through East Tilbury, to which I have afforded significant weight.”
The council received 180 objections to the proposal following consultations launched last year which closed in May. These included fears access to the site was unsafe, additional traffic, urban sprawl into the green belt and loss of farmland and wildlife.
