WHILE negotiations are ongoing about the make-up of a proposed extension to a new homes development in South Ockendon, its builders have been highlighting demand for smaller apartments rather than family homes that they initially planned to build on the site.

Matters came to a head at a recent meeting of Thurrock Council's planning committee where a number of councillors wanted to reject an application to change the make-up of the latest development of the former Fords factory.

In the initial plans submitted to the council, semi-detached family homes made up a significant part of the project that St Modwen Homes wanted to complete as part of the Bennett's Field development.

The new full planning application sought permission for the erection of 92 units, comprising 86 one and two bed apartments, two three bed dwellings and four two bed dwellings along with associated infrastructure, works and landscaping.

Changes to the original plan would result in six houses instead of four within the central part of the development and a change from 31 houses to 86 apartments in the form of three blocks of apartments in the central and eastern side.

The proposal was featured in a Thurrock Nub News story in December.

The idea was not to the liking of councillors who accused the developers of greed and not meeting the requirements of borough residents and expanding families.

At one point it seemed as if the whole plan would be rejected with the mood in the meeting summed up by Cllr Gerard Rice who said: "We should throw this back at them. I read through this and tried to find the positive but I cannot. They are taking away houses. Families with children need homes to live not be put in flats."

St Modwen argued that they are driven by market forces but the item was deferred with councillors telling their planning officers to give a stern message to St Modwen that they had to revise the plan and go back to 'proper homes for families'

However, that appears to have cut little ice with St Modwen who only this week issued a release expound the benefits of apartment living at the site – and saying they were planning to build more of the same.

A marketing statement by the company said: "New-build apartments at St. Modwen Homes' Bennett's Fields development in South Ockendon, Thurrock, have sold out in a flash to first-time buyers making use of the Government's Help to Buy scheme.

95 per cent of the 78 one and two-bedroom apartments were sold to first-time buyers, while a waiting list of over 50 eager homeowners continues to grow – three-quarters of which are seeking one-bedroom apartments.

"Bennett's Fields is an attractive proposition for local young professionals, commuters, and downsizers."

Sophie Schofield, Head of Sales South East at St Modwen Homes, added: "We have seen phenomenal demand for apartments at Bennett's Fields, particularly from local people, in their 20s and 30s, who understand the town's charm and its access to transport routes into the capital.

"Almost all our homeowners have made use of the Help to Buy scheme to step onto the property ladder – and our growing waiting list is further indication of the development's appeal."

The company appears to assume they will get their way in the end despite councillors' opinions, adding: "Plans for the next phase of development include 86 one and two-bedroom apartments and desirable two and three-bedroom family houses. Which is in line with their original submission which references two three bed dwellings and four two bed dwellings but the majority of the site will be 86 apartments in three blocks rather than the 31 houses the land was originally earmarked for.

The developers' marketing for Bennett's Field can be found here.