A developer is hoping to bring 35 new homes to Grays under new plans that have been submitted to Thurrock Council’s planning team.

Developer Keepmoat Homes wants to build a mix of 15 flats and 20 houses off Dell Road in Grays, with properties ranging from one bedroom to four.

Just six will be categorised as ‘affordable housing’, which is half of the normal requirement for a development of this size but the developer claims in planning documents that “costs of developing the site means that it cannot sustain a policy compliant quota of affordable housing”.

They go on to state that they also do not meet the council’s planning standard known as ‘Lifetime Homes’, which typically means homes can be adjusted over time for lifetime use.

This can include having space for ground floor shower drainage, potential for fitting hoists and potential for ground floor bed space.

Developers say the reason for not meeting the standard is because to do so would “further and significantly add to development costs and undercut affordable housing further”.

Furthermore, they highlight that the standard is “now defunct” and new national guidance states that it is the responsibility of local authorities to demonstrate a clear need for housing for people with specific needs.

John Kent, ward councillor, said: “Keepmoat are the developers who have failed to deliver on their obligation to work with Land Trust to properly manage the viewing area at their development near to Dell Road - as a result residents are suffering continued anti social behaviour. 

"As far as I am concerned they should make good on existing commitments before being granted permission to build anywhere else in Grays. 

"As if that wasn’t enough they are offering to build only six affordable homes on the site - that’s half the number the council expects! 

"Given these issues I hope the Planners refuse this application.”

The development will include 51 parking spaces, with 14 allocated to the 15 flats and 32 allocated to the 20 houses. An extra five will be provided for visitors.

Planning documents add: “The development of 35 new homes on this site which benefits from top level accessibility to local facilities and services, including public transportation links – road and rail – will boost housing supply and have little to no adverse impact in terms of environmental or social sustainability factors.

“Significant weight should be given to the benefits of regenerating this disused site, and the social benefits of securing housing, including affordable housing, within the area.”