FAMILIES in need of temporary accommodation have moved into a new block of 11 flats in Stanford-le-Hope that Thurrock Council has bought from its developers for more than £3.5 million.

The block of six two bedroom flats and five single bedroom dwellings was built as a commercial venture by developers on scrubland between Fairview Chase and St Margaret's Avenue.

It has a planning history going back many years  and an application approved in November 2021 was in quick succession to an approved one for nine bedrooms as builders sought to squeeze more properties into the three-story block.

It was opposed by local residents – who objections were led by then Stanford West councillor Shane Hebb. He detailed a long list of reasons why approval should be refused.

The application to build the block was put to Thurrock Council in by Billericay-based Terry Dormer in October 2020 and was approved 13 months later.

Mr Dormer's application was the last in a number of applications on the site, going back to 2015. Though permission was given for six two bed and three on bed apartments, the application lapsed without work being started, with the applicant citing 'commercial reasons' as to why it had not been built out.

It was resubmitted and approved in 2018 before coming back again with an additional two flats.

There were previous applications with different configurations of apartments, going back to 2014.

All the applications, except the last, fell below the threshold of ten properties being the trigger for an allocation of affordable housing in the scheme. The applications clearly saw the site as a potential sales ground for private residential homes.

Jacqueline Court in Corringham.

However, as in the case of a similar block of flats built in Corringham, the council has stepped in and splashed the cash to buy up the new builds – though both have been allocated as temporary housing sites – rather than permanent residences.

The council paid £3,719,200 to buy the 16 properties in Corringham, but then allowed them to stand empty for months before finally allocating them as temporary residences earlier this year.  

Speaking about the purchase of the block on Fairview Chase, Cllr Barry Johnson, cabinet member for children's services and housing, said: "These flats will provide much-needed temporary accommodation for local people who need a home.

"They are now owned by the council and demonstrate our commitment to making sure we provide high quality housing to local people that need it most.

"We have significantly expanded the number of homes we own and let to local people, including those we have used to provide excellent temporary accommodation to those most in need. This scheme has helped us create much needed social housing in the borough and means that we save money, make homes available for local people and have ended the need for to place families outside the borough, away from their support networks."

The new flats in Stanford-le-Hope

The council told Thurrock Nub News the Fairview flats have been bought outright for £3,554,200 using 'Right to Buy' receipts already in the council's possession. The money came from the council housing revenue account. It appears it was spent quickly as a deadline approached and the council might have had to give the money to the government if it remained in its coffers for too long.

A spokesperson confirmed the purchase took place through the Phi Capital direct acquisition scheme, a controversial process which has also seen the authority pay millions to agencies and loan companies, some for properties it has agreed to lease for decades.