COUNCILLORS have voted against plans to turn a former convent beside a Tilbury primary school into a 20-bed HMO, despite officers recommending approval.

Thurrock Council's planning committee voted to reject the Malta Road scheme on Tuesday evening.

The application would have converted the former Convent of Mercy, vacant since the Sisters of Mercy left the site, into a 20-bedroom HMO.

But councillors and residents raised concerns about the site being immediately next to St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary and Junior School, arguing the HMO was inappropriate.

Jo Seymour, chief executive of the Christus Catholic Trust, which runs the school, said the trust supported housing in principle but believed the application failed to address the impact of a 20-bed HMO next to a primary school.

She said: "The school and trust do not object in principle to the reuse of the former convent building or the provision of housing.

"However, the application proposes a 20-bed HMO immediately adjacent to St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery."

Tilbury Riverside ward councillor Harley Pyman-Brickwood also urged members to reject the scheme.

He said: "I strongly object to this proposal, and I am disappointed officers recommended approval despite concerns raised by residents."

Councillors heard concerns about parking, the development's scale and its impact on the area.

Planning agent Matt Driscoll told members no statutory consultees, including Essex Police, objected to the plans and the building had been used communally for decades.

He said the applicant would replace the gate linking the site to the school with a secure fence and argued the scheme would bring the empty building back into use.

During the debate, councillor James Mackintosh said: "I find it a bit shocking that we're not considering it more being that it's right next to a school."

When committee chairman Cllr Steve Taylor asked for a proposer to back officers' recommendation to approve the scheme, no councillor was willing to do so.

Vice-chair of the committee Cllr Jack Fuller instead proposed refusing the application, arguing the development would represent an over-intensive use of a sensitive site beside a school.

Councillor Mackintosh seconded the recommendation, and the committee voted to refuse planning permission.