PLANNING officers have approved an expanded residential development in rural Thurrock.

Outline planning permission has been given for the development of seven new homes on land at Portland Lodge, located in Brentwood Road, Bulphan.

The proposal includes five plots previously approved in January 2024, but as Nub News reported last year, the applicant quickly came back wanting more.

The new submission suggests a small cul-de-sac, accessed via the existing entrance from Brentwood Road. Features include a bin collection point, bike parking, and a landscaped area at the site entrance.

The proposed homes are four-bedroom properties featuring pitched roofs, gabled porches, and bay windows.

Portland Lodge itself is a large detached two-storey house situated approximately half a mile southeast of Bulphan village.

The application has drawn comments from Essex Highways, which raised concerns about the sustainability of the location. Officers noted that residents would be reliant on private vehicles due to limited public transport links. Brentwood Road is classified as a Level 1 strategic non-trunk road, and the addition of more homes could be seen as intensifying its use.

Highways officers requested further information on trip generation and transport movements, reviewing a submitted transport statement but seeking additional clarification.

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Despite concerns over sustainability, the council's highway team has not raised any objections on safety grounds. Previous permissions on the site indicate that traffic generated by residential use would be less than that of the existing commercial operations. The proposed parking provision is considered to meet adopted standards.

Planning officers have recommended approval of the application, subject to conditions. These include the submission and approval of detailed plans covering layout, scale, appearance, access, and landscaping before any development begins.