Councillors recommend refusal of South Stifford development

11:10am Friday 9th May 2008

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THURROCK Council have recommended a refusal of plans to develop 235 residential units in South Stifford, fearing the borough will become known as flat Thurrock.'

At a Planning Committee meeting last night councillors raised concerns about the proposed development on London Road, including road safety and increased pressure on the already over subscribed Stifford Primary School and Grays Media Arts College.

The proposal, being made by Fairview Homes, is to demolish the existing buildings at Drapers Yard, and replace them with no less than 235 residential units of mixed size in three, four and five storey buildings.

The committee followed the advice of officers and moved their recommendation to refuse the plans.

Little Thurrock and Blackshots Councillor, Joy Redsell, said: "I'm against this development, a five story building is really wrong.

"London Road is already at deadlock at times of the day.

"It's such a big development, infrastructure can't cope.

"With no houses going up we are going to be called flat Thurrock as that is all we are getting all the time."

Grays Thurrock Councillor Peter Harris had concerns about congestion on London Road.

He said: "Unfortunately London Road is an old fashioned road used by far too many vehicles at a time, any time you add even two more cars it gets worse."

Chair in Councillor Steven Veryard's absence, Councillor Barry Palmer, summed up: "We must be mindful of the relatively small properties already near there, a five story block would have an overbearing effect on the existing residential area.

"If we were still the planning authority we would be minded to go with the officer recommendation of refusal."

His motion was seconded.

The final decision on whether to approve this scheme now rests with the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation.