THURROCK Council planning officers have brushed aside the concerns of three environmental groups and given a provision thumbs up to a new housing development close to the centre of Grays that will take out a chunk of one of its remaining natural green spaces.

London-based Smart Planning produced a proposal on behalf of applicants Clarence Country Homes Ltd for agreement in principle to develop land adjacent to Hogg Lane, close to Pagette Way.

They wish to build eight new homes, probably in one apartment block, on a site that is currently a green oasis.

Natural history organisation Essex Field club objected strenuously saying the application papered over the reality of the site and its value to the local environment, and added scathing comments about the validity of the environmental surveys put forward by the applicants.

And Essex Wildlife Trust put forward a range of objections, summarised by it saying: "The proposed development will result in unacceptable loss of a significant proportion of a designated local wildlife site."

Natural England joined in the objections, saying "new residential development in this area and of this scale is likely to have a significant effect."

However, council officers have made the decision to approve the principle of building on the land - which paves the way for a formal detailed application. Any objection in the future, possibly by locally-elected councillors at a planning meeting, would struggle to overcome this initial agreement - the main debate that remains in planning law is now the minutia of detail.

The proposed residential development would require a new access to be created on to Hogg Lane and the council's own highways department raised concerns about that idea.

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But their concern was also waved aside by planners.

The full application and decision letter can be viewed here