A FORMER director of Thurrock Council, who left the authority after failing to develop its local plan over several years, has emerged as the chair of a commercial partnership aiming to build up to 25,000 houses across the borough.

Andy Millard spent 12 years at the council including spells as head of strategic planning and delivery, head of planning and growth and, most recently, as director of place.

He left his £135,000 a year post in October 2021 to move to the south of France, issuing a leaving message that said: "Building on the vast amount of experience I have gathered over my career, I am now available for interesting and rewarding short-term advisory roles in the public and private sectors.

"If you have an opportunity that fits the bill, and if you consider that I could add value, then I'd be pleased to hear from you."

Now he has returned as the chair of a group of residential property developers, working under the branding of 'Thurrock Residential Developments Partnership' (TRDP).

In a launch statement issued today (Wednesday, 26 July) TRDP said it has "launched a campaign to unlock economic growth in Thurrock by accelerating the delivery of new homes and supporting infrastructure in Thurrock.

"Thurrock is one of the most exciting and significant growth opportunities in the country. The Partnership estimates that there is potential for 35,000 jobs to be created in the borough by 2040 and growth in the value of the Thurrock economy by almost £2billion.

"But job growth is currently outpacing the construction of homes, which is putting the borough's economic potential at risk. To support the borough's growing economy and avoid further traffic congestion from workers needing to travel into Thurrock to work, there is a need to increase the construction of new homes. This will facilitate the funding and delivery of new infrastructure, such as schools, health facilities, sports and recreation facilities, publicly accessible open space, better town centres, and highways, public transport, and utilities.

"The partnership estimates that the additional housing need in Thurrock is circa 25,000 homes over the next 10 years. Collectively they have land capacity to more than meet this need.

"The potential construction of a range of new low carbon communities in Thurrock could unlock investment in the region of £250 million in infrastructure across the borough. This could facilitate:

• More than 1,300 primary and secondary school places
• The equivalent of 24 GPs
• More than £32 million investment in green infrastructure
• 2,700 direct and more than 800 indirect construction jobs

"The TRDP is working with Thurrock Council and other local stakeholders to work with them to forward the growth agenda and ensure the borough has the long-term infrastructure it needs to retain the benefits of growth locally. This is a critical opportunity to ensure that the borough can realise its full economic potential and provide a high quality of life for its residents."

While it claims to be a partnership of companies, TRDP is a company solely owned by one man, Ian Anderson – the Planning Director of Iceni Projects Limited, a company associated with a number of controversial planning developments across the borough.

Most recently its work in presenting a planning application to Thurrock Council resulted in planning permission being granted against local wishes for 230 new homes in East Tilbury.

And the company has also been heavily involved in the planning work ahead of a controversial application for a logistics park in Aveley.

Yesterday a number of Thurrock councillors and community groups registered a letter of concern with the council over planning applications it believes run the risk of the council being 'open to charges of bias and corruption'. Among them is the logistic park plan.

Despite the track record of difficult and disputed applications associated with Iceni, Thurrock Council leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies has given his seal of approval to the new TRDP partnership, which says it has met with several organisations across the borough, including Thurrock Council, and stakeholders in the education, health, transport, and business sectors, 'to understand Thurrock's needs and gain support to build better, faster'.

Cllr Jefferies is quoted by TRDP as saying: "I am determined to ensure that the people who already live and work in Thurrock benefit from those new opportunities and a shortage of housing stock in the borough only decreases access to those jobs and will limit income opportunities for residents.

"Building more homes is important, but it is not enough. We also need to build the right homes in the right places, so that everyone has a chance to live in a safe, decent home.

"Thurrock continues to be open for business and the council is keen to work with proactive partnerships like TRDP, putting the community at the centre of those conversations."

Mr Millard is also quoted, saying: "Thurrock has a bright future. Its economy is growing rapidly, and by working together, the public and private sectors can plan for the social and physical infrastructure that will ensure the long-term benefits of economic growth are enjoyed by everyone who lives and works in Thurrock.

"We know that some residents may have concerns about the impact of new housing on existing infrastructure. But, with effective planning, it will deliver investment in far-reaching new infrastructure that benefits everyone, and new local carbon communities for Thurrock's next generation. 

"We have been talking to partners in education, healthcare, and business to understand the challenges and build the case for unlocking growth.

"By working together, we can create a thriving future for Thurrock."