A GROUP of independent councillors on Thurrock Council have urged the government take a more cautious approach to changing rules on green belt development.

Members of the eight-strong Non Political Alliance of Independent Councillors (NPAIC) on the council represent wards where large swathes of rural land are currently being targeted for development.

That includes the East Tilbury area where approval was recently, and controversially, given for 230 homes at Linford. Current development plans on the table for the area would add at least 1,250 more homes, including another major development in Linford.

And in Stanford and Corringham the council's local plan has earmarked several large green belt sites as having the potential to be developed.

Today (Tuesday, 30 July) the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is set to announce sweeping changes to the planning system in England, as part of the Government's drive to build 1.5 million new homes.

Up to 6,500 green belt homes have already been earmarked for Thurrock.

Councillors are concerned that Ms Rayner's plans could allow 'free range' development across the east of the borough with limited consideration given to infrastructure.

Speaking on behalf of his NPAIC colleagues, East Tilbury councillor Fraser Massey said: "We all accept there is a need for new homes. But there need to be limits on where the sites are allocated, and no site should be approved without proper infrastructure plans relating to health, education, traffic and leisure facilities.

"Thurrock has unfortunately acquired a reputation for bad planning. So bad, that at one point the government stepped in and set up the Development Corporation – though that in turn failed to deliver an improvement and the chalice was handed back to the council, only for them in turn to allow some poisoned developments.

"In recent times, particularly since government intervention, we appear to be getting a grip on the principles of good planning, if not the actual delivery. We have been making progress, albeit slow.

"The danger of a sweeping change in government policy and increasing the housing targets might well have a reverse effect on the progress Thurrock is making.

East Tilbury and Linford have been targeted by developers.

"The danger that the principle of allocated sites having an easier ride through the planning system that Ms Reeves appears to be advocating, brings the fear that bad planning will return and we will be giving up our precious green belt not for estates and homes that come with benefits, but that simply continue to up the burden on our ability to cope.

"Thurrock is stretched as it is. We need to be extremely cautious about putting our foot on the accelerator and building willy-nilly.

"Every development should still go through a thorough process, including proper diligence, and only if it meets clearly set targets should it be approved. Those sites must fulfil their obligations to the communities and environment that surrounds them.

There is a danger that politically-motivated affordable homes come at too great a price.

"Ms Reeves has also talked about delivering more affordable homes. Increasing the affordable housing targets is welcome where there is a shortage of affordable homes and that is certainly the case in Thurrock.

"But there are considerations to be made.

"I read a commentary this morning by planning expert Fergus Charlton, who provided a realistic appraisal of the affordable housing situation, saying: 'The right balance needs to be struck. If affordable housing increases, what will suffer? Contributions to fund education or infrastructure? The land owner's uplift?

'A reduction in developer's profit would be a poor outcome if that resulted in otherwise viable housing schemes not coming forward'.

"Those are sensible comments. Caution, as well as enterprise, is needed. They can go hand in hand.

"My group colleagues and I know full well about the result of bad planning. We see it daily in our wards. Throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of political gain is not going to solve anything – only deliver more problems in the future."