THURROCK planning officers have bowed to the wishes of councillors and have pushed through approval for a controversial green belt housing development on Orsett Heath.

Several months of wrangling over the development at Barmoor House on Farm Road, Chadwell St Mary, came to a conclusion at a fractious meeting of councillors in February when plans for four new bungalows on the site were approved.

It was against the recommendation of officers – and some councillors including Gary Byrne who was vehemently against the proposal

There was the possibility that officers and the council's legal team might refer the agreement of permission to the Planning Inspectorate but this week approval has been confirmed and the site agents Smart Planning Ltd have been told they can press ahead with the build.