AFTER initially voting to reject a controversial housing development in Stanford-le-Hope, members of Thurrock Council's planning committee then changed their minds and deferred a decision on the application.

The plan to build more than 120 homes in the green belt on land will now come back to councillors for a second debate because of concerns about the loss of land used for sport within the curtilage of St Clere's school.

Tuesday's (10 March) planning committee considered an outline application from Estates and Agency Strategic Land and their agents, Iceni Projects, for up to 121 homes on fields next to the school on Butts Lane.

The 19-acre site, currently open arable land between Stanford-le-Hope and Linford, sits beneath overhead power lines and includes a major gas pipeline.

Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West, urged the committee to reject the scheme, warning it would close the remaining gap between the two communities.

"Urban sprawl may no longer be a trendy phrase, but gradually these communities are creeping together," he said.

Cllr Speight argued the site was "unsuitable for development" due to power infrastructure, the nearby railway line and what he called "unsafe" access at Butts Lane.

Cllr Neil Speight said the intended junction providing access to the new estate would be very dangerous. would be dangerous

advertisement

"Those roads are narrow, twisting and very dangerous," he said, adding that the lane near St Clere's was prone to surface water and had seen "a number of significant accidents, including one young man losing his arm."

Cllr Speight also argued that the figures used by agents to promote the scheme because of the 'severe shortfall in the supply of land' didn't ring true in Stanford and Corringham, saying: "In the east Thurrock area alone in the past two years more than 5,000 new homes have been approved. I differ with the statistics and point to the local plan which projects three more significant housing estates all with two miles of the site. They will make up our piece of the shortfall."

He described arguments by the developers that the site would provide new jobs and be a boost to the local economy as 'rubbish' and suggested that the cyclepath and pathways promised by them already existed. And he said the proposition that many homes would be 'affordable' was spurious.

However, the developer's agent, Ryan Walker, said the plans had been shaped through "extensive discussions" with council officers and key stakeholders.

He said the scheme includes 50 per cent affordable housing — 60 homes — aimed at reducing pressure on Thurrock's housing waiting list, which Mr Walker said exceeds 5,000 families.

He argued the development complied with national policy and would support future growth linked to the expansion of DP World London Gateway.

"Homes and jobs will be well connected," he told members, adding that 40 per cent of the site would remain as infrastructure.

Mr Walker also highlighted benefits to St Clere's School, which supports the scheme. Funding from the land sale, he said, would enable "significant upgrades" to sports facilities for pupils and the wider community.

The new access road will cut into sports pitches currently being used.

Sports England has maintained an objection over the loss of some playing field land, despite the applicant insisting that pitch provision would not be reduced. Yet in their own presentation to committee, a graphic (above) produced by Estates and Agency Strategic Land shows the new access road takes over land that currently contains two football pitches.

In an initial vote members voted to reject the officer recommendation. But then, after comments by chair Cllr Mike Fletcher, they reversed that decision and agreed to defer the decision to await further detail from Sports England seeking 'clarity' on Sports England's position and, according to Cllr Fletcher, "the actual nature of any proposed enhancements."

The presentation and debate can be viewed here, starting at 1:58:30.