A PLANNING application has been submitted to Thurrock Council to effectively build a new community in the borough green belt - with more than 2,000 homes.

The proposed new development will be called Horndon St Mary and is on a site north of Bulphan  known by locals as Tillingham Hall. 

It takes up land on the borders of West Horndon, south of St Mary's Lane, from Dunnings Lane, across to A128.

The outline planning application with all matters reserved except access, has been submitted by a new company, Horndon St Marys LLP, with much of the preparation done by Iceni Projects, the company involved in many of the new housing developments across rural Thurrock, which has links going back to the aborted Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and former borough Director of Planning Andy Millard. 

Many of the projects put forward involving Iceni have courted controversy.

Recently Thurrock Council planning committee chair Cllr Mike Fletcher gave the Iceni's owner, Ian Anderson,  and other developers the rough edge of his tongue after being told the council was not reflecting government policy on new homes building. 

The latest plan submitted is for the creation of a new settlement and multi modal transport hub adjacent to West Horndon Railway Station. 

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The new settlement would include a primary school, hotel, commercial buildings, a care home and Integrated Retirement Community and a mixed tenure residential development comprising up to 2,100 dwellings.

The scheme will include a new bus and active travel route over St Marys Lane road bridge, enhancements to the Freshwell Gardens underpass, open space and public realm; new planting and landscaping, ecological enhancement works; sustainable urban drainage systems; creation of new vehicular and pedestrian accesses into the site from the A128, creation of a new vehicular, pedestrian and cycle network within the site; improvements to the existing highway and local road network; lighting; engineering works, meanwhile uses and infrastructure and associated facilities, including demolition of all existing buildings on site.

The area to the north of Thurrock around Bulphan has been a frequent target for development over recent years.

Several have been permitted but others failed. 

A plan for 750 homes to the south of Bulphan was rejected by Thurrock councillors earlier this year: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/airfield-homes-plan-is-grounded-by-councillors-who-reject-applicants-message-you-cannot-protect-every-blade-of-grass-234647

On Thursday night plans for a new crematorium off the A128 were rejected. (Report to follow).