PLANS may be afoot for a major residential development on the edge of Corringham.

Thurrock Nub News understands that discussions have been opened between the owners of a swathe of land bordering the Manorway as it sweeps down towards the site of former oil refineries at Coryton.

Shell were owners of one of those refineries and though those industrial sites are long gone and the Shellhaven refinery replaced by a new state-of-the-art deep water port (DP World London Gateway) and adjacent logistics park the oil giant retains ownership of some land in the area.

With pressure on Thurrock Council to sanction large amounts of housebuilding in the borough, land that was formerly protected as green belt may become available for development and Thurrock Nub News has been told land south of the Manorway is such a site.

The land is a large section of the green belt including an area adjacent to Rainbow Lane and could include a local farm as well as land currently now owned by DP World. Shell's real estate team are reported to be putting a development package for the site together.

One of the casualties of any development might be youth football team Corringham Athletic, who have made one of the fields owned by Shell their home.

However, within the club there is optimism that even if they had to relocate, they would be accommodated in any new plans by Shell. Certainly any planning permission would be likely to including that sports pitches would have to be replaced.

The club's chairman Keith Wilson, himself a well-known local footballer with teams including East Thurrock United and Tilbury, has informed club members and parents that there may be changes ahead, but the club is already in dialogue with Shell.

He said: "This is obviously something that we always knew could happen as we are only tenants but I must stress now that this is just the beginning and Shell have stated this plan will take to at least 2023/24 to put together and then the actual planning permission would take even longer I'd expect so the club doesn't have to look for a new facility immediately but it is something we all need to think about."

Corringham Athletic is a voluntary run club with more 150 children registered from five to 18 years old and Mr Wilson says he believes Shell recognises its value to the local community and added: "As chairman I don't fear for our immediate future and we will do everything in our power to make sure the club continues even if it is at another venue.

"And we will work with Shell to see if they can relocate us within this plan. We are grateful that they have consulted us so early in the project and have briefed us on their plans."

There may also be news soon about another large area of green belt land in Corringham. The nearby Pegasus Club and its large area of playing fields and a fishing lake has now been closed for around two years and its Malaysian owners have been negotiating with several bidders, including East Thurrock United Football Club which is keen to see its own site at Rookery Hill developed for housing.

News from the east this week is that the owners have said they are close to 'concluding a deal' though no information has been given about who the new owners might be.