Demolished college site proposal is put to councillors - though there is no mention of historic covenant which says it should only be used for educational purposes
By Local Democracy Reporting Service and Neil Speight 5th Nov 2025
By Local Democracy Reporting Service and Neil Speight 5th Nov 2025
THE latest proposal to develop the former Thurrock Adult Community College site will go before borough planners next week.
Grays Propco Ltd want to build an 86-bed care home and eight new houses on the site to provide accommodation for elderly residents.
A consultation has already taken place, seeking local people's views on the plans, which were first laid out in April this year. However, the council's web portal where planning applications are posted shows no public comments were received about the proposal.
Previously there has been considerable contention over what can be built on the site, with residents researching documents and claiming a historical covenant means only buildings used for education can be erected on the land.
The report to councillors ahead of next Tuesday's meeting (11 November) makes no mention of the covenant.
Planning officers are recommending that the green light be given.
According to the proposals, the new care home would feature 86 ensuite bedrooms, communal lounges, dining areas and landscaped gardens across a largely two-storey building.
The care home would be accompanied by eight new terraced and semi-detached houses with off-street parking and private gardens.
The planning report states: "The nature of the care home provision seeks to cater for those with a high level of frailty, significant Dementia presence and/or limited mobility.
"The layout provides a number of lounge areas on each floor and dining areas for those wishing to eat communally."
"Twenty nine parking spaces are provided to serve the development together with cycle and motorcycle parking and a staff travel plan has been submitted in association with the proposal."
In recommending approval for the site, the report states that the proposals would make efficient use of a vacant brownfield site, contribute to an unmet need for residential care homes in Thurrock and create new housing provisions for Grays.
Officers added the plans will create "temporary employment opportunities during the construction phase of the development and bring more than 70 full-time employment roles to run the care home".
If approved, the developer will be obliged to contribute £9,489 to offset impacts on the Thames Estuary Special Protection Area.
The former college was demolished in 2022 and has remained vacant ever since. Thurrock Council paid for demolition but has not disclosed the cost.
The report for councillors says the site was sold by Thurrock Council to Boutique Care in 2024, though previous 'sales' of the site fell through when planning permission is refused. The report does not say if that caveat applies to the latest application. The original price for the site when it was first put to market was £2 million.
Previous related stories include:
https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/college-could-be-the-site-of-50-new-homes
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