The plot of land where a building was destroyed by a fire was the site of a development where there were plans to build 200 new homes and doctors surgery.

The application to build on this plot of land, which was submitted by Sutherland House Ltd, was passed in Thurrock Council on April 20 this year.

But a block of unoccupied flats on the land were burnt to the ground yesterday before the development had finished.

Sutherland House Ltd and NHS England have been contacted for comment.