THURROCK Council has given the go ahead for a home to be turned into a children's nursery.

Planning officers have approved an application for a change of use for the School House, on Queen Elizabeth Drive, Corringham.

The application for the former caretakers house, set next to a primary school, did not include details of how the nursery would operate or how many staff would be employed.

The council received two letters of objection and two in support of the scheme.

Objectors said they feared the nursery would bring more traffic congestion and parking issues while those in favour welcome more nursery provision.

Resident, Tia Morris, said: "I feel there is a shortage of child care providers in the area. I am currently pregnant and have been made aware to the limited spaces available for children.

"I find that transforming the residency space into a nursery will be beneficial to the locals and the children of Thurrock.

Jason Clark added: "I fully support this planning application and business being approved, the area is in demand for childcare especially with the funded hours that's recently been given to parents."

However, fellow resident, John Malpass, said there was "already too much bad parking on the corner outside.

He added: "If an emergency vehicle needs to get past at the end of school day they would not get past. Giffards school or council does nothing to stop the often illegal parking. I have lived here over 30 years and only seen traffic warden once."

The council said: "The proposed change of use at School House is considered to be acceptable in principle. The proposal would not alter the external appearance of the host property and so in design terms it is acceptable.

"While it is accepted the proposal would modestly intensify the use of the application site, when judged against the existing use, it is, important to consider the setting of the host property with the context of the established primary school. Parking is provided on the proposed application site and within the primary school adjacent."