A LEADING Thurrock councillor has called on the government's housing minister to mount a public inquiry into two controversial applications approved by the authority's planning committee.

Cllr Mark Coxshall, Thurrock Council's Conservative cabinet portfolio holder for regeneration, wants minister Robert Jenrick to intervene following approval for housing schemes on Little Thurrock Marshes and on a triangular plot of land near Palmer's College adjacent to Woodview.

Both developments are in the green belt and were backed by a cross party majority of planning councillors, despite a recommendation to reject them by planning officers.

Cllr Coxshall has now written to Mr Jenrick saying: "I would like you to refer these to a public inquiry.

"Both these decisions are contrary to national planning policy.

"In the case of Little Thurrock Marshes this has already been subject to a recent planning appeal inquiry which saw the site rejected by the planning inspector.

"The committee approved both applications against clear officer advice.

"Green belt development will form part of our housing delivery of mover 32,000 homes but it needs to follow due process through the local plan.

"We have been unable to progress the local plan at a pace Thurrock Council and myself would like due to the Lower Thames Crossing. The absence of a plan has recently created an environment and is encouraging speculative planning applications on green belt which we need to resist until we have gone through a consultative process.

"Most developers and landowners are working constructively with us in the meantime to promote their sites through the local plan process including the recent government initiative of the design Charrette which we have piloted successfully and are now rolling out across the borough this year.

"If these two applications were to go ahead the hard work over the past two years of bringing the community and developers together would be put at risk."