RESIDENTS from the Blackshots, Little Thurrock and Stifford Clays area were among a healthy number who turned up to a consultation event held by Thurrock Council at Thurrock Rugby Club on Thursday evening (22 May) to discuss plans to demolish the area's three residential tower blocks and the rebuild of social housing to follow.

An original council proposal sought to replace some of the 'lost' flats in the tower blocks with homes built on the northern part of Blackshots playing field.

This led to significant public opposition, including a petition signed by more than 2,000 residents opposing the proposal to build on the playing fields known as the King George V Memorial Park.

The public opposition led to the council adopting a more collaborative effort involving cross-party political opinion and input from local residents, including the Blackshots Residents' Committee chaired by Mike Bilton.

Outline details of a revised housing development plan that provides more social housing units than the original plan, without building on parkland, were presented at the consultation.

Though nothing official has been declared through official council channels, and at the meeting representatives of the design consultants were keen to stress to residents that the results of the consultation and the proposals are still to go to cabinet, portfolio holder for good growth Cllr Lee Watson said: "This has been a complex and challenging process.

"The Conservatives never apologised to residents, claiming it would just take a 'political decision' to reverse the plan — ignoring the legal and planning realities involved. It has taken nearly a year of careful work to untangle and reframe the proposal.

"Thurrock urgently needs social housing, but we must also respect the views of our residents. I was committed to delivering not just a compromise, but a better plan — one that everyone could support. I'm grateful for the collaborative work of our chief officer for housing, economic development and regeneration, Gloria Ighodaro, and her team in helping us reach that goal.

"The revised development will now deliver more homes than originally planned, without sacrificing public green space."

At the meeting local ward councillors Ben Maney (Conservative) and Mike Fletcher (Labour) welcomed the change of direction by the council.

Cllr Maney said: "It's encouraging news. It's a long time since the council said it was taking the flats down when there was talk of building on Blackshots playing field, but common sense means it looks like that's not going to happen, they have listened.

"Residents are encouraged to hear that the council, which has come in for a lot of stick, has listened.

"Whatever happens, houses have to go somewhere and there has to be some build on green belt but in the main people are happy that building on the playing field is no longer the preferred option."

Cllr Fletcher said: "I think the reaction so far has been guardedly optimistic. A year ago, a housing estate on the park felt like a done deal and no one was talking. Today, we have a plan that has cross-party and community support.

"I think what they see here is actually what the council should have done at the beginning, rather than say 'that's what we are going to do', so that's good.

"There are obviously going to be questions about the other options, but you can't build a big development without building on the green belt.

"We are hoping that what we are seeing here respects the wishes of the local people.

"The main thing for me is that the nuclear option of building on the playing fields is now off the table.

"They have a number of other options.

"One of them is the field next to the rugby club. There are also options relating to this side of Long Lane. The key thing is that we don't overbuild. The infrastructure has got to match."

Plans to build housing on part of Blackshots Park have officially been scrapped, marking the end of a year-long controversy and delivering a significant win for local residents.

Thurrock Council has revised its approach to the Blackshots Estate development, taking advantage of new national planning guidance to protect the cherished parkland while still addressing urgent housing needs. The updated plans ensure that the new social housing scheme will no longer encroach upon Blackshots Park—a King George V Memorial Park gifted to the people of Thurrock for recreational use.

Thurrock MP Jen Craft attended the consultation meeting and said: "The protection of Blackshots Park is a fantastic win for our community."

"Having had so many people contact me about the park's future, I know how valued this space is. This shows how the Labour Council is listening to residents and taking action, successfully saving the park while still delivering the housing our community needs."