THURROCK planning officers have thrown out a plan for up to five custom-built dwellings on a rural site near Horndon on the Hill.

The application for outline permission for the five homes was on Malvina Close off Lower Dunton Road but it has been rejected because officers feel the proposal constitutes inappropriate development and would be harmful to the green belt.

They also say the proposal would create a residential development at a site that is located in an unsustainable location, distant from community services, essential support facilities and a choice of transport modes.

Which will no doubt anger the applicants as within a few hundred yards the council permitted a housing development of more than 80 new Redrow homes two which all the same criteria apply!

There appears to be considerable friction between the applicants and the council over the planning history of the site, and previous council decisions on it. There is some bitterness expressed in the application's planning and design statement where it says 'Thurrock Council is clearly and demonstrably failing to meet its duties and obligations'.

The full application and officer's recommendations can be viewed via this link.]