THURROCK Council officers have stood their ground despite determined efforts by councillors to overrule them and grant approval for the development of up to up to 161 new dwellings on Thurrock Marshes in Little Thurrock.

Controversy over the development of the site between Tilbury and Grays has raged for a number of years - resulting in several highly contested applications to the council.

The latest application came before councillors on the authority's planning committee in March this year with officers recommending refusal.

However, a small majority of councillors ignored the officers' recommendations and concerns expressed by some local residents and gave approval to the scheme.

Councillors, led in the chamber by Cllr Gerard Rice who was the strongest advocate for approval, gave permission for the proposed development based upon the following reasons:

• the opening of Tilbury 2 port expansion would create new jobs which would attract out of Borough workers that would result in a demand in local housing that the proposal could provide for;
• there was no flooding issue and that the Environment Agency had funds for flood defence in Tilbury;
• Thurrock needed social housing;
• the applicant had worked to address previous objections and the proposals included more open space; and
• connectivity improvements within the proposals.

Despite their belief that their decision was right, under the constitution of the council the committee agreed that the item should be deferred to enable a further report outlining the implications of making a decision contrary to the Planning Officer's recommendation.

After the meeting, local residents registered their anger and that was reflected in comment by a councillor.

Other objections from a number of interested parties were registered with the council, which seemed likely to sway the balance of the argument but then the developers, Nordor Holdings Ltd asked for a delay to counter the arguments.

A showdown and final decision is now set to take place at next week's (Thursday, 22 October) meeting of the planning committee. Officers again recommend refusal.

Councillors who supported the scheme have been advised by the council's legal team that they are treading on dangerous ground, but that warning was massively undermined last month when the secretary of state declined to step in and intervene on another major and controversial Thurrock planning application - the creation of a retirement village at Langdon Hills.

Council planning officers and the legal advisor were made to look foolish after their stringent arguments were summarily rejected by the planning inspectorate.

The case for objections to the scheme at Thurrock Marshes has also been undermined by a political argument that suggests there has been unfair collusion between associates of the ruling Conservative group on the council and residents who have a vested interest in seeing the proposal rejected.

The full details to be put before councillors next week can be viewed here (agenda item 8).