PLANNING officers from Thurrock Council have thrown out a bid to build two new homes on a plot of land currently occupied by one home in Stanford-le-Hope.

The applicants had wanted to knock down the home at 281 Southend Road and put in two new homes but planners said the scheme would detract from the character and appearance of the site, the immediate street scene and the locality.

They said: "The proposed development involving the demolition of an existing dwelling and erection of two detached dwellings would appear cramped, overdeveloped and out of keeping with the prevailing character and appearance of the area. Consequently the development would undermine the open character of the area."

Conversely, the planning team at the council had argued last night (Thursday, 18 March) in favour of a council scheme to demolish a house in Chadwell St Mary and build five new homes on its footprint.

The plan was thrown out by councillors and the possibly hypocrisy of the council's planning position was hinted at by Cllr Mike Fletcher during the debate on the Chadwell project when he said: ""I look at this development plan and think that we have looked at a number of developments like this where people have wanted to knock down large houses to build more smaller houses on and without exception we have refused them.

"So what worries me is inconsistency. What is so different about this attempt to squeeze five houses into somebody's back garden?"