DESPITE winning a planning appeal in 2020, developers have submitted a new plan for homes on land adjacent to Curling Lane, Helleborine and Meesons Lane in Grays.

After a number of unsuccessful attempts to get planning permission for the site, the applicants - Smart Planning - won an appeal allowing them to build eight semi-detached homes.

However, the company now say that scheme - which was opposed not just by council planners but by residents and ward councillors, is no longer affordable.

In a statement to the council when submitting a new bid for a three storey block of flats, six with two bedrooms and two with one bedroom, Smart Planning say: "Due to the soaring costs of construction, that scheme is no longer viable.

"This revised proposal restricts development to a part of the site which is less technically challenging, and omits abnormal road construction costs, together with formulating a more compact form of development. 

The scheme approved by the planning inspectorate despite local objections.

When upholding the appeal, inspector Sarah Colebourne, said: "The Council and local residents consider that the scheme would not reflect the character of Badgers Dene.

"The estate was built in the 1980s and has a suburban character of modest, two storey dwellings set on culs-de-sac off a central spine road. It is surrounded by areas of wooded open space. Although well maintained, the existing dwellings are unexceptional in their character and appearance and I see no need to replicate or reflect their design.

"Furthermore, the sloping topography of the site, its setting behind tall trees and its significant degree of separation from nearby dwellings by the intervening open space distinguishes it from the estate and requires a different approach. Whilst the scale, mass, contemporary style, materials and detailing would differ from those of the two storey, brick and tile houses on the estate, given its individual context, I find that the proposed development is of a high-quality design that would sit comfortably within the site and enhance its surroundings.

"I conclude the proposed development would not harm the character or appearance of the area."

The latest application can be viewed in full via this link, which also afford the opportunity for local people to register a comment. Several have already objected to the new proposal.

When the appeal decision was made ward councillors Martin Kerin, Jane Pothecary and Tony Fish issued a joint statement saying: "We are furious at the decision by the planning inspectorate to ride roughshod over local residents' views

"Over two rounds of planning applications, we have laid out a clear case as to why this development would be inappropriate.

"The inspector said: 'Local residents consider that the scheme would not reflect the character of Badgers Dene. The existing dwellings are unexceptional in their character and appearance and I see no need to replicate or reflect their design.' We reject this assessment and believe, like our residents, that Badgers Dene has its own unique character.

"It is also indefensible, in a ward like ours which is lacking recreational space, to build on a much-loved piece of recreational green space. The Badgers Dene estate is well known as haven for badgers, and yet we see more opportunities for them to thrive taken away.

"This is yet another example of a decision being taken too far away from where it should actually be made. For a two-year campaign to end in this way is bitterly disappointing."