PLANS have now been submitted for a new housing development in the heart of South Ockendon.

The proposed scheme involves the redevelopment of the former Culver Centre and Culver Field site to provide 173 new homes, 111 of which will be for private sale. The other 62 dwellings will be affordable flats.

Each house will have two parking spaces and each flat on and there will be 25 visitor parking spaces across the site.

The land is owned by Thurrock Council who selected the winning design for the £55 million pound development via a challenge issued to architects in 2018, with firms invited to submit a variety of designs.

In total the site will be a mix of one and two bedroom apartments for rent or sale on a shared equity basis at an 'affordable' price' and two and three bedroom houses for sale. There will be 26 semi-detached houses, 13 detached houses and 12 terraced houses.

It is believed the development will be managed by the council's wholly owned Thurrock Regeneration Ltd, though the structure of that organisation and its role has been the subject of intense debate in recent months.

The number of houses on the site was reduced last year after a consultation with residents, with great emphasis placed on the open space. A campaign had been launched locally driven by locals who were opposed to any development on the site other than the original school buildings. They saw the loss of Culver Field as a development step too far.

"In response to this, we have amended our proposals to ensure that both new and existing residents would have access to safe, high-quality public open spaces, with opportunities provided to enhance biodiversity and create better habitats for wildlife," said councol portfolio holder for housing, Cllr Barry Jonson.

"We are confident that our plans will help to address the housing need in South Ockendon, while also improving and enhancing the spaces that are available for residents to use and enjoy."

Will Lusty, an associate director with Savills who have worked on the design and application with DarntonB3 Architecture says: "The application presents a unique and exciting opportunity to deliver a new residential development, along with the delivery of high quality public open space at the former Culver Centre and Culver Field site in South Ockendon.

You can see full details of the proposed development and comment on it via this link.