Angry residents have submitted a 300-strong petition to the council against a planning application for houses on Little Thurrock Marshes, after heavy flooding this week.

A planning application for 280 houses on land between Asda and Thurrock Park was submitted by Nordor Holdings Ltd last November.

It is the developer's second attempt to build on the land and came in only three weeks after its previous application for 113 homes was rejected last November.

Over 80 objections have already been logged on the council planning portal against the new proposal, citing flooding, infrastructure and access as residents’ main concerns.

The first application, submitted in March 2015, was also campaigned against by residents and the council rejected it due to ‘it only being for part of the land’.

The area of land, known to some as Little Thurrock Marshes, is known locally as a flood-plain.

Residents say they feel ‘let down’ by the council, after assurances were given five years ago the land would not be built on.

Tony Coughlin of the Thurrock Park Residents’ Association said it was ‘ridiculous’ the council would consider allowing building on the land again.

Mr Coughlin, 56, of Sedge Court, said: “Residents are absolutely amazed by the application being put forward.

“It’s ridiculous, not only is the land a flood plain, the access roads are horrendous and if it goes ahead, it will be almost doubling the residents in such a tight area. The road and other infrastructure simply won't be able to take it.”

“Particularly, it could make the flood plain worse – all it’s doing is making a bad situation worse.”

“Most importantly, this area is NOT part of the local development plan where the council have to allocate areas for housing development as instructed by central government.”

He added that ‘every resident of Thurrock Park without exception’ had signed the petition against the proposal.

A spokesman for the council said: “It would be inappropriate for the council to make any comment on a planning application other than to note it is in the green belt and therefore will need to show “very special circumstances” if it is to be taken forward.”

The application is due to be discussed at Council Planning meeting at the end of the month.