IT'S back to the drawing board for a controversial Thurrock Council housing proposal that caused residents' outrage and condemnation of the authority.

Plans first mooted several years ago by the council to develop former allotment land close to Belmont Road in Grays sparked significant public opposition, particularly from residents of Parker Road who feared increased traffic congestion on a residential road that already suffers parking and access problems as it is the access to a local primary school – the Belmont Castle academy.

Despite the objections of residents, planning permission for a development of 80 homes – which would include 28 council homes, was granted in 2018.

However, the project has since faltered and through some ground preparation took place and the area was fenced off, questions were raised about the viability of the project.

And in January last year, a hint from Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill there might be a change to the nature of the project was confirmed by the council.

The backtracking was welcomed by residents but they warned they would still be keeping a vigilant watch on the project.

The scheme was also opposed by ward councillors who remained critical of the council's plans for the site.

In January last year the three Labour councillors in Grays Riverside ward said: "While we welcome this 'pause,' we remain vigilant and sceptical. This scheme, which we dubbed 'The Belmont Debacle,' caused great distress to the residents of Parker Road and the surrounding area.

"The Council's consultation process was poor, and the scheme was completely ill-thought out. No consideration was given to the absurdity of accessing the proposed site.

"With major problems now coming to light with the Council's regeneration process, we can see that the incompetence of this scheme wasn't, and indeed isn't, a one off."

Now though, it appears the whole project will go back to the drawing board.

A report to the council's general services committee next week (Monday, 11 October) says it is likely that planning permission will lapse next month and there is no way the project can move forward in time to start work before permission expires.

Members of the committee will be told, in a report about the work of the council's wholly own subsidiary housing company Thurrock Regeneration Limited, that 'all feasible options have been explored for sustaining the current planning consent and it is not considered possible to meet the material start condition. It is therefore necessary submit another planning application.'

However, when plans do come back to planning, they may well be similar and rekindle old debates.

The report adds: "Thurrock Regeneration Limited wants to ensure the Belmont Road development is progressed and on site as soon as possible, in order to provide further homes (private and affordable) to residents of the Borough, working in partnership with the Council to be part of the solution of providing new homes in Thurrock, keeping the overall design, unit and tenure mix as currently approved by the Local Planning Authority for 80 residential units".