WORK may finally be about to begin on the building of a highly controversial flats complex in the heart of Grays that will feature 41 new homes.

The apartment building, on the site of the now demolished Dominoes snooker hall at the end of New Road, adjacent to the parish church of St Peter and St Paul, was opposed by local residents and members of the church community, but after many wrangled permission was granted in 2013.

The original, fire damaged building was levelled and the area boarded off, but work on the new building has stalled.

However, following receipt of a commencement notice for implementation of the plans, which also include four shops on ground floor level, Thurrock Council officers have given the green light for the project.

The proposed building to the front of the High Street will be five storeys high.

However, its designers the top floor is set back from the High Street frontage in order to reduce the perceived mass of the building block and to provide ample access to the front balcony amenity space. The building height is designed to be lower than the eaves of the adjacent church tower which developers say: "Will maintain the townscape prominence of the Grade II listed St Peter and St Paul's Church and ease the relationship with the roof ridge on the adjoining building to the south.

The new building will contain three one bedroom flats and 38 two bedroom flats.