PLANNING officers are still recommending approval of a plan for a number of new homes on a plot in Stanford-le-Hope which has courted considerable controversy in the past.

The development of five apartments and four terraced homes at James Court adjacent to the historic St Clere's Hall was discussed at a council meeting in October when officers wanted to give approval, but a number of councillors raised concerns about the site and the developer's track record.

Indeed, after hearing the history of the site (which has included several previous refusals of planning permission and a successful appeal against a Thurrock council decision) and the objections of ward councillor and Mayor Cllr Terry Piccolo, planning committee member Cllr Mike Fletcher said: "These guys are starting to sound like cowboys."

Cllr Piccolo had told the meeting that he was concerned that the developer had not completed works previously agreed, saying: "There are still many works outstanding for example incomplete car ports and generally unfinished or poorly completed groundworks.

"It appears to me the developer is more interested in building the houses and selling them rather than ensuring the whole development is completed in a timely manner."

He said that if the new application was approved strict conditions and timings should be imposed.

One of the biggest critics of the proposal was Cllr Angela Lawrence who told the meeting: "The developer does not sound like the type of person who is concerned about even the people living there at the moment."

With it looking like yet another confrontation over a planning permission between officers and councillors was about to break out, the debate in October was halted when it was suggested a site visit be made to examine the state of the already developed part of the site and to consider safety issues regarding parking and access.

The option to visit was agreed by a majority of members.

In the days following the meeting the contractors on site undertook considerable work, clearing up lots of material scattered around the site and creating a clear pathway from the front of the existing properties to main site entrance at the rear, though some residents in the existing front properties appeared not to be using it and some parked vehicles to ensure access had to be from the front via London Road.

A significant amount of barrier fencing was put in place.

Issues regarding bin collections had also been considered and over recent weeks bins have been left on left London Road itself, sometimes for long periods and leaving an unsightly mess.

Councillors visited the development on 19 December and the matter will now be discussed again at the next meeting of the planning committee on Thursday, 7 January when councilors will again be recommended to grant approval.

Though the site is in the green belt and officers have generally had a rigid policy of opposing development in such areas, this time they say the plan does not cause harm to the environment and says the new homes will be similar to the existing derelict barns.

The report to councilors adds: "The redevelopment would replace predominantly commercial style buildings with a residential building. These existing buildings and structures are of substantial and permanent construction. As a result it is considered that the impact upon the Green Belt in terms of the character of these existing buildings is relatively similar to the proposed building."

The report before the meeting next week can be found here.