THURROCK Council planning officers have granted retrospective permission for a technical change of use at a borough shop, where a new owner was operating in breach of a condition of which he was unaware.

Officers have shown leniency to owner Nick Murray, who operated the Brick Lane Bagel Company sandwich shop on Woodbrook Way in Corringham and granted him permission to continue operating, despite some concern about smells and parking from neighbours.

Mr Murray had retrospectively sought permission to change the premises rating from Class E to a dual use Class E and hot and cold food takeaway, and for a new shopfront.

Officers had served Mr Murray with an enforcement notice on in May this year because he had not applied for a part change of use.

A report by officers acknowledged Mr Murray took over the business in January 2026 and had no prior knowledge of the requirement. The report detailed a statement from Mr Murray's agent which says: "We understand the previous business owner was fully aware of this situation when selling the business on.

"The Brick Lane Bagel Company has been operating from the premises since September 2024. According to the lease agreement. Of which our client took over in January 2026.

"We note that the Thurrock Council and its policies relating to hot food takeaways must fit within a strict criterion to be considered as acceptable within the community it serves. In reviewing these policies, we note a requirement that a hot and cold food takeaway must not be within a set distance criterion from Primary and Secondary Schools.

"There are no primary or secondary schools within the immediate area. The area is primary residential properties with residents having the use of a local park and bowls club ie Corringham and Fobbing Bowls Club. Located within the terrace of mixed use business there are no other business providing hot / cold takeaway. The nearest being those shops located at the top of Lampits Lane, some half a mile away.

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"The bagels themselves are brought in off site and are not made on the premises. The company provide predominately cold fillings with a small amount of hot food being cooked on the premises."

A neighbour representation raised concerns regarding cooking odours from the premises and concerns have also been raised regarding its operating hours.

However the council says: "The Environmental Health team has been consulted and has undertaken a site visit and identified a slight odour associated with baked goods and minimal noise emissions. No objection has been raised by the Environmental Health team to the current operation, subject to appropriate controls relating to food preparation and the extraction and ventilation arrangements."

A neighbour representation also raised concerns regarding customer parking, including vehicles parking close to the junction and obstructing a residential dropped kerb. However, the Council's Highway Officer has raised no objection.