PLANNING officers have rejected an application for a crematorium, private hospital, GP Surgery and a specialist family care facility in Bulphan.

The proposal, which was not called in for consideration by councillors, was rejected because officers said it breached green belt guidelines and would create an isolated health-led community use at a site that is located in an unsustainable location, distant from community services, essential support facilities and a choice of transport modes.

As such, said the decision notice: "The proposal would represent an unsustainable form of development in an unsustainable location."

There was widespread condemnation of the plan (first submitted in August last year) among residents in Bulphan with 17 submitted comments from local people - all against the plan for reasons including impact on the green bet, continued expansion of the village without adequate facilities and the travel problems funeral corteges might cause on the already busy A128.

Objections were summed up by this quote from one from nearby Church Lane, who said: "As ever this another attempt to encroach on Green Belt land for a development which is inappropriate and cannot be justified on the grounds of need.

"There should be an embargo on any large scale development in an area prone to flooding.

"This is a major concern for those who live in Bulphan as climate change is increasing intense rainfall.

"Thurrock Council are all too aware of this and it begs the question why this village is becoming the dumping ground for every unpleasant activity from solar farms to crematoria which should be sited away from existing areas of habitation?

"It is time to stop this madness!"

The applicants, who included a 24 bedroom care unit in the scheme, had said: " The Care facility has been designed for client groups who have high dependency requirements within a community in which the provision of health and wellbeing is paramount.

"Each proposed block is positioned around a central lake and landscaped gardens with pathways allowing residents to safely walk between their Close Care / Assisted Living Housing and the main Care Unit which houses a cafe / dining facility, activity spaces and treatment rooms.

"The composition of the buildings allows for a high level of intervisibility and openness in this small care community."

On the north and east of the plot it was planned to create 16 two bedroom apartments and, to the south, four two bedroom bungalows.