Council targets open spaces, car parks, garages and existing homes as sites for new homes
THURROCK Council has confirmed it has identified a much-loved patch of open space in Corringham as one of 20 areas it is considering developing for housing.
Residents in Corringham have long expressed fears that the site will be developed and in a report going to the council's housing overview and scrutiny committee next week the site off Springhouse Road is listed as suitable for 55 homes.
In total the council is putting forward 19 other sites - including the demolition of part of its own civic offices in Grays and the building of 82 units. Selling the units is expected to generate the revenue to cover the estimated £10 million build of a new extension on the site adjoing the High Street.
Other sites earmarked, including the Culver Centre and adjacent field and the Callan Grove open space in South Ockendon have already stirred up considerable anger and campaigns against them.
Several car parks are identified in Grays town centre as being under used and available for development, including part of the Thurrock Adult Community College.
In Orsett an existing number of homes on Ridgewell Road would be demolished and replaced.
In total the housing development option sites would produce up to 926 new homes. They will be built by the Council (through the Housing Revenue Account) or by its wholly owned company,
Thurrock Regeneration Limited. The report to the meeting says: "The list of site options will enable the Council to have greater focus and work more efficiently towards delivering the housing development targets as time will be spent on sites that are agreed, rather than reacting and working on sites that may be abortive. The report does not seek approval for individual housing development schemes, nor for housing development contracts to be tendered. Its purpose, in accordance with the procedure agreed by Cabinet in January, is to identify a list of potential housing development sites that have been assessed against the initial criteria agreed by Cabinet. "The list of site options will then be explored further to establish their suitability for development, subject to the appropriate levels of engagement and consultation with stakeholders and communities." The 20 schemes earmarked for development would take place on the following sites if approved, with the council giving comment about why they are suitable: 1: Aveley Library/Hall/Car Park. The future of the adjoining hall remains under discussion but could be incorporated if released for development. 9 homes.2: Garron Lane/Humber Ave, Belhus. Existing grassed area does not provide high quality amenity space. 26 homes.
3: Enborne Green South Ockendon. Existing grassed area identified does not provide high quality amenity space. 11 homes.4: Derry Avenue South Ockendon. Existing grassed area identified does not provide high quality amenity space. 14 homes.
5: Culver Centre & Field, Belhus. Open space identified as "low" quality & surplus to requirements. 195 homes.6: Whiteacre, Belhus: 45 self-contained dwellings as part of a wider residential care facility. 45 homes.
7: Prince of Wales Public House, South Ockendon. Vacant and dilapidated former pub. Potential wider site with adjoining open space. 10 homes.8: Callan Grove, Belhus. Existing grassed area identified does not provide high quality amenity space. 43 homes.
9: Broxburn Drive, Belhus. Site includes a high number of vacant garages and infill. 60 homes.10: Crammervill Street/Fleethall Grove, Stifford Clays. Locations largely comprised of underused and cleared garage sites. 17 homes.
11: Darnley & Crown Road, Grays Riverside Council car park. Parking survey identifies surplus town centre parking. 90 homes.12: CO1(Civic Offices). Grays Riverside. Housing redevelopmemt replacing office space to be relocated under the civic extension project. 82 homes.
13: Argent Street, Grays Riverside. Council car park. Parking survey identifies surplus town centre parking. 32 homes.14: Thames Road, Grays Riverside. Council car park. Parking survey identifies surplus town centre parking. 89 homes.
15: Manor Way Grays Thurrock. Potential development with adjoining private sector led development. 60 homes.16: Bridge Road (East Side) Grays Thurrock. Cleared site adjoining scout hall - includes part of land used as car parking for Adult Education Centre if not required for that purpose. 20 homes.
17: 13 Loewen Road, Chadwell St Mary. Vacant dwelling in poor condition in large plot. 5 homes.18: Vigerons Way, Chadwell St Mary. Underused and largely vacant garage site. 8 homes.
19: Ridgewell Avenue, Orsett. Redevelopment and replacement of existing Pre-cast dwellings HRA and privately owned dwellings. 55 homes.20: Springhouse Road, Stanford East & Corringham Town Open space. Identified for redevelopment. 55 homes.
The committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, 11 February but, following on from several precedents set recently, it seems probable that any decisions will only be paid lip service to by the ruling Conservative Cabinet which meets to make a final decision on the report just 24 hours later. In the life of the current administration the Cabinet has chosen to reject many objections from scrutiny committees on controversial schemes - and even ignored a full council vote when a majority of councillors voted to scrap the redevelopment scheme for the civic offices, but their opinion was ignored.
Scroll through the pictures to find the sites in your area. The full report (Item 7 starting on P47) can be found via the red button link below.
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