JUST a few weeks after stumping up approaching £300,000 to buy a Grays town centre property, including offices, from Thurrock Council, its new owners have submitted a plan to create two new flats.

The former Thurrock Asian Association office and space above it on Clarence Road, were surplus to the council's requirements – even though ward councillors have called on the authority to utilise local opportunities to create more social housing.

The building went under the auctioneer's hammer and sold for £287,000, with costs to be added.

This week a plan has been submitted to renovate the property and create the two new homes.

The ground floor will become a two bedroom home, and upstairs will be a one bedroom flat. It is not disclosed if the new homes will be sold or rented out.

Details of the scheme can be found via this link.

The property on Clarence Road was sold around the same time as a large plot of land nearby land on Argent Street and went for more than half what the council realised for selling of the much bigger plot which had originally been in the same auction. That site could house dozens of new homes - prompting controversy and much criticism of the council by ward councillors and residents.