THE last few days of a consultation process on a planned and controversial major housing development in Corringham are ticking down – but developers say they are already well on the way towards submitting their plans to Thurrock Council.

The site of the proposed development, on land to the north of Southend Road, opposing Fobbing Academy (Gable Hall School) has long been earmarked for development.

Plans go as far back to the eventually discarded Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation (TTGDC) which, in April 2009, produced a masterplan (Click red bar below) for East Thurrock which included development of the site.

Sites proposed by the TTGDC around Stanford have been built out.

Several of the projected housing sites identified in the TTGDC's plans have since been 'lifted by' developers and built out, including Stanford-le-Hope sites off Stanford Road and Victoria Road.

Many of the projects put before Thurrock Council over recent years, that were initially identified in the masterplans, have been assisted by the Iceni group, which has included former TTGDC and Thurrock Council staff among its planning team.

Sites in Corringhan earmarked by the TTGDC in 2009.

That includes the latest project to build 412 homes on land off Southend Road, which is downsized rehash of a former project first mooted in February this year when it was proposed to build 525 new homes. Applicants to the council sought advice on whether an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) would be needed ahead of a major application. Planning officers concluded it was no, leaving the way open for the recently announced plans.

Details of the most recent proposals submitted by Mulberry Strategic Land, with project advice from Iceni, can be found via this link.

Mulberry Strategic Land is the company behind the highly controversial proposal for up to 1,000 new homes in East Tilbury which was opposed by residents and won on a direct application by the firm to the Planning Inspectorate after Thurrock Council dragged its feet and delayed making a decision. Eventually, after the application to the Inspectorate was submitted, the council said it would have been minded to refuse, but it was effectively too little, too late to stop the project getting the green light.

And the council had to pick up an £87,000 legal bill.

Mulberry is following up on a previous application submitted for the Corringham site by Cogent Land LLP for up to 750 homes on the land in 2014. Those proposals included a new a new railway station, which were supported as feasible by Network Rail.

However, the application was later withdrawn. The principal officer of Cogent Land, which was dissolved in 2023 was Ian Anderson – a major shareholder and director of Iceni Projects. He is also a director of Thurrock Residential Debelopers Partnership Litd, which has recently ceen linking with Thurrock council to promote housing development in the borough. He is also a dirctor of Hordon St Mary's LLP, which has submitted plans for a development between Bulphan and West Horndon. That application has created widespread opposition from residents.

Last year Mr Anderson was personally warned by the chair of Thurrock Council's planning committee, Cllr Mike Fletcher, that Thurrock would not be 'threatened' by developers, who needed to show more respect for the council.

Having dropped the number of proposed homes from 525 to 412, the latest proposal by Mulberry says it will build a new primary school, a care home and a 2,000sq metre supermarket on the 54-acre site. The proposed homes will be low rise, up to three-storeys high. The formerly proposed rail station is not in its plans.

In its consultation, the developer said: "With everything to serve the community's needs on its doorstep, we would like to create a great place to live in north east Corringham – a new neighbourhood which fits into the wider Corringham community, with the benefits shared by both.

"We are now keen to progress the plans and have taken the time to consider the feedback to the previous proposals, taking it into consideration while developing our new plans. This includes the addition of a new shop for local residents, along with a new school and care home."

Mulberry adds: "There is a serious need for more housing for local people.

"We believe that this development will help to play its part by providing policy-compliant levels of affordable housing, as well as delivering significant economic benefits through investment in the local area."

The consultation is open until 1 August. For more information, visit www.northeastcorringham.co.uk – email you views to [email protected]