A WAVE of opposition from residents to a planning application for 37 new homes in Chadwell St Mary have been backed by local ward councillor who believes approval should be denied unless significant issues are overcome.

Thurrock Nub News reported last month on plans for the new development adjacent to St John's Road and there has been lots of opposition to the scheme via Thurrock Council's planning portal.

Nearby residents say the scheme will impinge on their privacy, create traffic problems and will have a negative impact on the local environment and wildlife.

They have also been highly critical of the conduct of some residents who have moved into homes on an earlier development, which have been leased to the Home Office who have placed asylum-seekers there. Residents fear new homes may also quickly become homes of multiple occupancy.

Ward councillor Daniel Chukwu has echoed some of the fears of residents, particularly those that say Chadwell's existing infrastructure is already too stretched.

Cllr Chukwu told Nub News: "Some of the residents have expressed concerns regarding this development and I have communicated it to the council.

"We need infrastructure in our community before we can accommodate further development. I totally agree with concerns."

The site, which will be accessed via a new entry road off St John's Road and a recently developed site to the east called Oak Grove where there are 20 recently completed houses adjoining the Coward Warehousing Ltd site, is on what the applicants describe as 'a difficult brown field site'.

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Some of the new homes will be flats in three storey apartment blocks, while others will be a mix of 19 three and four bedroom homes.

The development is described as being similar to the existing new build houses on Oak Grove, which have been a bone of contention with existing residents. When planning permission was originally granted for the site, the council was told it would be a low cost family housing development and would fulfil a local housing need.

However, many of the dwellings have become home to multiple male occupants. The objections and concerned are summed up on the planning portal by one resident who says: "HMOs and Home Office lets for asylum seekers. Rubbish, rats, unsociable coming/goings. Drug smoking in gardens. Illegal motor vehicles. Noise from building works going on out of hours. Machinery set alight. Not enough parking. Excessive noise. Overstretched local services already, can't get doctor appointments now! Schools over run. Strongly disagree with this application as it will bring more suffering to an already stretched Chadwell."