Planning officers reject village homes plan
By Christine Sexton - Local Democracy Reporter 31st Dec 2025
A PROPOSAL to demolish part of a property on Fobbing's green belt and replace it with five new homes has been refused by Thurrock Council planning officers.
The application for Oozedam, in High Road, sought permission to partially demolish the existing two-storey dwelling and redevelop the site with five houses. The property occupies a prominent position fronting High Road and sits within designated green belt land.
Planning officers concluded the scheme would cause "significant harm" to the openness of the green belt and the character of the locality.
Their report stated: "The proposed development would materially reduce the openness of the green belt. By reason of the number of dwellings, their height, scale, massing, layout and extensive hardstanding, the scheme constitutes inappropriate development. No very special circumstances have been demonstrated to outweigh this harm."
Three objections were received from residents, citing loss of privacy, overshadowing, increased traffic and noise, and damage to the rural character of the village. One neighbour wrote: "The proposed development would directly overlook our home and garden, severely compromising our privacy. It would block natural daylight and dominate the outlook from our property. Increased traffic movements would bring noise, fumes and disturbance to what is currently a quiet village."
Another objector argued the plans failed to meet national policy requirements: "The site is within the Green Belt and does not meet the 'very special circumstances' criterion set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. Nor could it be defined as infill development."
Officers agreed, noting the proposal would spread across the frontage and rear of the site, urbanising land that is currently open and undeveloped. They warned the scheme would set a harmful precedent for back land development and undermine the spacious, rural character of Fobbing.
The refusal also cited concerns over biodiversity, surface water drainage and flood risk, with officers concluding the development would lead to habitat loss and increased run-off.
Fobbing has been subject to a number of small development applications in recent times - some winning approval, some not:-
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