THURROCK councillors will meet this evening (Wednesday, 6 December) to discuss a proposed local plan that is scheduled to go out for public consultation.

The plan has effectively been eight years in the making – but has only really come together in recent months under a new planning team established at the council.

It has been brought together under the guidance of interim chief planning officer Tracey Coleman.

If approved tonight, consultation on the 'Thurrock Local Plan: Initial Proposals document and the Initial Proposals Integrated Impact Assessment' will begin later in December and run for a minimum of eight weeks.

The council says: "Consultation on the Initial Proposals document will enable the council to gain additional insights on the proposed structure of the emerging Local Plan and potential growth areas.

"Comments received in response to the consultation and any subsequent informal engagement activities will be used to help refine options for policy directions and growth areas and inform the Publication Draft Plan (Regulation 19) which is anticipated to be consulted upon in late 2024."

The proposals before an extraordinary meeting of the council this evening have been drafted after a series of meetings with ward councillors and other organisations across the borough.

It is presented in parts, with specific areas of the borough given detailed local coverage.

Thurrock Nub News will break down the presentations in a series of articles to follow today, but the full report presented by Ms Coleman can be found via this link.

And an appendix detailing its contents can be read here.

The council adds: "One of the key components of a new Local Plan is putting forward a clear and concise vision of how Thurrock as a place should adapt, grow, and evolve over the next 15 to 20 years.

"In the absence of an up-to-date Corporate Plan, the emerging Local Plan has sought to build on the aims of the recently adopted Health and Wellbeing Strategy, focussing on the need to 'Level the Playing Field' across the borough, recognising the competing roles the place plays (protecting the environment, boosting jobs, delivering homes) but ensuring that all the different places within the borough put people at their heart.

"In 2040 Thurrock will be a place that celebrates its location on the Thames; a place where innovation thrives and residents and businesses coexist together in a way that's good for the environment and makes everyone's lives healthier; it will be a more resilient place able to respond quickly to changes in climate, economic pressures and social/health challenges; ultimately, it's a place where no one gets left behind, and everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

"It is recognised that the vision may need to be adapted further following the consultation to reflect received comments and to ensure that it appropriately responds to other corporate strategies including the emerging Economic Strategy."

The prosals brought together by council officers this evening have not met with universal approval from councillors and it is expected there were be opposition and some possible counter proposals put forward this evening.

However, council leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies has warned that if the council doesn't introduce a formal agreed local plan in the very near future, it will be at risk of potential random developments from third parties including major housebuilders and commercial developers that will not knit together for the good of the community.