DEVELOPERS face a battle to win over the hearts of planning councillors after officers have recommended rejection of a massive new development on the site of a golf course in the borough.

The scheme at Langdon Hills Golf and Country club in the east of the borough was submitted by Rischo Leisure Ltd who have bought the club and land.

They wish to rebuild the golf club and incorporate a health spa, reception area; restaurant area; bar areas and function areas for 250 guests.

In addition they wish to create of a new 'health-led' community to include 84 for independent living for over 55s, 36 apartments for independent living extra care, 42 close care apartments and a 64-bed residential care home.

The scheme has been widely criticised on social media and a number of local residents have registered their objections on the council's planning portal.

The main reasons they oppose the scheme are summed up by resident Tina Hannaway Ennever who lives on Lower Dunton Road close to the golf club.

Residents have already had to accede to the building of 80 homes and a hospice on an adjacent site and she and others believe enough is enough, saying: "The local roads are currently not fit for purpose with existing levels of traffic.

"With local roads currently suffering the burden of existing traffic and its use as a through road, there will be further strain added upon completion of the 80 new houses and hospice due for completion in 2020 on the Malgraves development.

"There have been multiple fatalities and accidents on Lower Dunton Road in recent years due to the narrow form in parts and variable traffic throughout the day and night.

"With no footpaths or bus services on Lower Dunton Road the only option for access to the Langdon Hills Golf Club will be private transport.

"Taking the points above in mind, the development proposal shows space for 600 car parking spaces, it is impossible for this additional traffic level to be accommodated safely.

"The proposal for multi story buildings on the development is not in keeping with the stringent controls for planning in the local area."

That's a view shared by planning officers at Thurrock (and neighbouring Basildon which also opposes the scheme) and officers will tell planning councillors: "In this case there is harm to the Green Belt.

"Loss of openness has to be considered against the factors promoted as 'very special circumstances' by the developers but they do not outweigh the identified harm to the Green Belt through inappropriate development and the adverse impact that would result upon the openness of the Green Belt in this location."

Planners also believe parts of the scheme are poor, criticising: "Unsympathetic design and poor quality architecture, scale, piece-meal massing, layout, landscaping and use of materials.