BOROUGH councillors have backed a controversial plan to turn a temporary building in the green belt - created to cope with a school placement emergency but now set to be a permananet fixture.

Considerable local opposition was mounted when the proposal to create a nursery for 110 children was made public in January this year.

The modular detached classroom block, paid for by the department of education, was built in 2022 after planning permission was granted to increase temporary capacity while the Orsett Heath Academy off Stanford Road was being built but it should have been removed once the new school building opened, which happened in September last year.

However, the council backed off implementing enforcement as they were aware the South West Essex Community Education Trust (SWECET) and Thurrock Rugby Club had a money-making proposal to make commercial use of the building.

A joint application then emerged, seeking permission to permanently retain the temporary building to provide "urgently needed" nursery school places from September this year.

It will also provide facilities for SEN children including cooking and nutrition facilities, an external area for a forest school and a dance studio for extracurricular activities.

Speaking at a planning committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday, 10 June), Steve Munday, CEO of SWECET, which includes Orsett Heath Academy, said: "Early years is a crucial stage of every child's development. The intention is to provide urgently needed nursery spaces and wrap around care to support working families in Thurrock. The borough, like many authorities is struggling to find much-needed places.

"In addition to the profound impact this will have for the children and families affected, this will have wider benefits to the community by locating this provision in partnership with Thurrock Rugby club and Orsett Heath Academy."

Earlier this year the council told Thurrock Nub News it was considering whether it should take enforcement action against another interim building created on rugby club grounds, which is now being used as a function facility, rather than the intended sporting academy initially proposed by the rugby club.

The first 'interim' educational building.

Planning permission for the first interim building to accommodate up to 120 students was granted in 2019 to offset the shortage of school places by delays in building the permanent academy. It was completed in time for the first wave of pupils in September 2020 and paid for by Thurrock Council, who picked up the £3 million tab.

In April this year Thurrock Council's licencing committee heard concerns about the building's new use. Police also raised concerns but eventually backed the plan.

At last night's meeting, Roy Jones, Independent councillor for Stanford East and Corringham Town, said: "I think there are a lot of pluses for this application for much-needed nursery and school places. It isn't going to upset neighbours.

"It's been there and worked well. The buildings are going to be upgraded so I think this is a marvellous opportunity to advance our education in this area."

The committee was told the site is considered grey belt, land in the green belt comprising previously developed land and as such needs special circumstances for development. Even though its classification as a temporary green belt incursion in an emergency was repeatedly stressed.

The application said: "It is considered that Very Special Circumstances apply to this proposal regarding the nursery school child places it would provide within the community, at a time when the demand is very high."