More than 160 homes could be built despite nearly 700 objections

The controversial plans were recommended for refusal by council officers in March but councillors told officers to rethink the recommendation due to the borough’s need for extra housing.

It was specifically highlighted at the March planning meeting that Thurrock desperately needs more homes to meet the government’s demand for 32,000 new homes in the borough over the next 20 years.

However, residents have urged councillors to refuse planning permission, with 660 signing a petition against the development and a further 27 letters being written to the council. Their concerns centre on increased traffic congestion, the strain on infrastructure and pollution.

Under the plans there will be 87 three-bed homes and 18 two-bed homes sold at market price, along with a further 56 ‘affordable’ homes that will range from one-bed flats to four-bed houses.

With the planning application due to be discussed at a planning committee meeting on Monday evening, Conservative councillor Allen Mayes has hit out at the committee’s reluctance to go along with planning officers.

He said “I was absolutely appalled by the planning committee decision to go against the recommendation of planning officers for the application regarding the Little Thurrock Marshes.

“The land is green belt and has previously been refused in 2017 on the back of an independent inquiry which recommended it was rejected.

“The new application has not resolved the independent inquiry recommendations and I for one am glad officers have again made the recommendation to refuse. The residents of Thurrock Park, Little Thurrock and Grays are against housing development on this land and they must be listened to.

He continued: “I urge the planning committee to do the right thing, follow the officer and legal advice and reject the planning application on June 8.”

The push to not refuse planning permission in March was led by Labour Councillor Gerard Rice.

Speaking during the previous meeting he explained: “We have to produce 32,000 homes and at this time the authority sits very much at the bottom of tables for housing delivery. Of those 32,000 around 8,000 will be out of brown fields and 24,000 from green fields.

“Whether we like it or not where we are is we have a total undersupply of housing to meet our industrial needs and when we are at the bottom of league tables for delivery that puts pressure on this authority.”

He continued: “Tilbury 2 will generate between 4,000 and 5,000 new jobs and we are in a situation where we’ve got almost full employment, so we’ve got to drag people in from the outskirts of the borough and we need them to live as close as possible to the employer because if we don’t we have a problem.”

The planning application will be discussed at 6pm on Monday.