COUNCILLORS will decide next week whether plans for up to 121 homes on land next to St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope can go ahead amid concerns over the impact on playing fields and traffic.

Thurrock Council's planning committee is due to consider an outline application on Tuesday, 9 June following a deferral in March to allow further scrutiny of sports provision and reconsultation with Sport England.

The applicants say the scheme, proposed for land south of the school and east of Butts Lane, would deliver a mix of market and affordable housing.

When the matter was considered in March, councillors initially rejected the application - but then changed their minds and deferred the issue pending more information from Sport England, who have now come back and said their objection remains. They warn the development could affect pitch flexibility, training space and future use of a cricket wicket.

Despite that, officers have again recommended approval in their report and dispute Sport England's conclusion, saying the impact is limited and would not reduce the number or quality of sports pitches available.

A report states pitches could be realigned without reducing their size, with no impact on existing football and rugby pitches to the east or on community use of the site.

The Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust, which runs the school, had said proceeds from the land sale would help fund improvements to sports facilities, but following an announcement that the Trust now plans to rebuild a large part of St Clere's School because of problems with RAAC, they now cannot make that commitment.

The trust has identified a further artificial grass pitch as a key ambition to meet demand from pupils and the wider community but there appears no funding for it.

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Public comments show 48 residents object to the proposals with many concerned regarding 'a loss of more green belt around Stanford', only two are in support.