A FULL planning application for the new design of Stanford rail station will be put before members of Thurock Council's planning committee on Thuirsday this week (11 February).

Thurrock Nub News reported on the new application in December when it was stated that the development will remain within the council's 'budget envelope' cost of £19 million.

If planning permission is granted, the council had previously said it believes the station rebuild can be completed by the end of next year.

The transportation hub on the other side of the road which will be made up of the existing car park and the Daybreak Windows site, which the council has bought, will take longer to complete.

Councillors will hear the new station buildings would be single storey in height made up from lightweight prefabricated material covered by a modular canopy system.

The larger building to the east of the railway line would provide accommodation for operational requirements; ticket office, staff welfare facilities, toilets and a commercial unit.

The smaller building to the west of the railway line would provide a covered second gate line.

Access for pedestrians will be from the main and secondary station entrances from the southern footway on London Road, where step-free access will be provided.

The new footbridge would be further to the south of the existing footbridge and will have an integral lift.

The application is being recommended for approval with officers saying: "The development of a modern station is considered necessary for local residents and is also recognised as a key driver for further regeneration in Stanford-le-Hope and Thurrock as a whole."

Tomorrow (Tuesday) another committee, the council's planning, transport, regeneration overview and scrutiny committee, will hear an updated report on the progress of the station work.

Despite the previous statements that the project will be brought in under the latest budget, officers have been cautious in their briefing to members of the scrutiny committee, not quoting figures but saying: "It has been agreed with the designers that a high level "estimated project" cost evaluation exercise be carried out at two "checkpoints" through the design process.

"Once when the full concept is agreed and a further check at final design approval, to give further certainty and to give some indicative numbers in support of the tender evaluation process. It is proposed to carry out a further check, using independent estimators to carry out a pricing exercise in parallel with the tender, to provide a benchmark against which to evaluate the tender submissions."