A BID to increase the number of new homes on a site in Fobbing was quickly rejected by Thurrock councillors at their recent planning meeting, despite a please from the site's agent saying the homes were much needed and there has been significant local interest in them.

The site is on land which is part of properties known as Greenacre and Oakdene off the High Road in Fobbing.

It is adjacent to a plot where permission was granted last year by councillors, who overturned an officer recommendation to refuse for five single storey detached dwelling houses for the over 55s.

The agents returned to the council with another application, for eight homes in a similar style.

In a statement to the planning committee, Nick Westlake who represented the agent at the meeting, said: "Twenty-three letters of consultation were sent out to the immediate neighbouring properties; ie those mostly likely to find objection to the proposal.

"There are six letters of support, some even suggested an interest in living there. Not a single objection was received. Clearly the people of Thurrock want this development to take place.

"Thurrock has a significant housing shortage and this application can help with that housing deficit. We firmly believe the benefits of approving this development would significantly outweigh the adverse impacts of the proposal.

"What is proposed can be described as 'limited infilling in a village', that is permitted by both local and national policy. There are five dwellings approved to the immediate north, there is existing development to the east and west of the site and the application simply 'infills this gap'. Leaving a green block to the front of the site.

"The Very Special Circumstances have been introduced to highlight the benefits of the development beyond simply saying the dwellings are for the 55's. We are happy to secure the age related housing via legal agreement."

Mr Westlake referred members to the previous reasons cited by councillors at the planning committee last year, who back the need for new homes of this nature, however, this time his plea fell on deaf ears.

The application received a somewhat scathing outline report from the planning officer who described it as inappropriate development that would do harm to the green belt and councillors did not buy in to the benefits suggested by the applicants.

Cllr Lee Watson said: "The houses are lovely but there are a lot of issues for me," while committee chairman Tom Kelly who added: "There are significant reasons for rejection and there is a lot of work to be done on this application."

It was unanimously rejected.