PLANS have been submitted to Thurrock Council to demolish an established boxing club in the heart of South OCkendon and replace it with a new, improved sporting and community facility which will have three floors of new flats on top of it.

The new building would contain 11 one bed flats, one two bed flat and eight three bed flats, making a total of 20 new homes.

The existing Belhus Park Boxing Club on Darenth Lane will have use of the new and improved building which will have range of new facilities. The new building would be available for wider community use.

Aelevations of the planned new building.

The planning application says the club is currently regularly used Mondays to Fridays by approximately 100 people each week - all community members are welcome to use the facility; it is not restricted to club members. The club is currently utilised for both boxing and martial arts (it is not used for any wider community functions).

The application adds: "It is intended that the sports facility would continue to operate upon the established hours of use as follows: 08:00-21:00 Monday to Friday, and 08:00/10:00 to 14:00 Saturday and Sunday respectively. It will also continue to be available to all community members. The only difference is that the club will be intending to expand its activities to incorporate a wider community function by hosting other activities and events."

Full details of the application and the developers' amendments made in the light of discussion with council plannesr can be found via this link.

The application itself, where there is the opportunity to comment can be found here.