DESPITE widespread public objections and a campaign by residents - backed by concerns from Essex County Council officers who wanted a decision delayed - a majority of Thurrock councillors at tonight's planning committee have approved the building of 2,100 homes on borough farmland.

To the dismay of residents of West Horndon and Bulphan who sat in the gallery, four councillors voted for the Horndon St Mary's application, three voted against it and two abstained.

It took almost two hours to reach a conclusion after two residents spoke against the scheme and representatives of the applicant, Horndon St Marys LLP supported by the Iceni Projects group. 

Three councillors, Jacqui Maney, Russell Cherry and Roy Jones spoke passionately against the development, as did lay member Steve Taylor who represents CPRE, the countryside charity formerly known as the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England. He does not have a vote but Cllrs Maney, Cherry and Jones voted against.

Councillors Tom Kelly, Sue Shinnick, Aaron Green and chair Mike Fletcher voted in favour. Cllrs Srikanth Panjala and Cathy Sisterson abstained so the vote was carried 4-3.

The meeting followed a deferment in December and a subsequent site visit on Tuesday, 27 January by councillors.

The application sought to transform 257 acres of land, much of which is currently being farmed, into a mixed-use community featuring 2,100 homes alongside a primary school, hotel, care home, commercial space, and community facilities. 

It is an accepted fact that it is only phase one of a number of proposed developments in the area, with thousands more homes in the pipeline.

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At tonight's (Tuesday, 10 February) meeting the application was presented by planning officer William Allwood to members who heard that Thurrock planning officers were still recommending the scheme for approval. 

Councillors were informed members that one of their concerns, access for children to both primary and secondary schools would be mitigated by a revised bus strategy and that the applicants would fund buses for five years. 

It was also reported that a doctor's surgery would be included on the site. Councillors suggested that additional funding for healthcare could be met by the applicants - they were told that was not something the council could support and applications for additional funding should go direct to the NHS.

Concerns by councillors over disposal of foul water and sewage, were also dismissed, with councillors told they were regarded as within available capacity by Anglian Water. "Concerns about foul water and sewage can be managed", councillors were told by Mrr Allwood - who added 'there is no reason to refuse this application, the planning balance is clearly in favour of granting permission in this case."

Leslie Lewis from West Horndon Parish Council laid out the objections of residents - but her words failed to sway a majority

Two speakers from the public gallery were then invited to speak against the application by chair Cllr Fletcher who said: "I have allowed two speakers in opposition because I consider there are exceptional circumstances in this case mainly because of its size and scale."

However their pleas fell on a majority of deaf ears.

The scheme will now go ahead with a number of conditions, which have not uyet been laid down but will be drafted, without consultation to the committee, by the council's director of planning, Ashley Baldwin, from his recollections of tonight's meeting.

A full report on the meeting and debate will follow tomorrow.