DEVELOPERS have won a legal battle to build more than 300 homes on Green belt land at East Tilbury, prompting a leading local councillor to say he fears the “floodgates” are about to open.
The scheme for up to 315 homes was opposed by both Thurrock Council and Thurock Thames Gateway Development Corporation but Communities secretary Eric Pickles has give the green light for the development on appeal.
The proposed scheme, earmarked for land at Bata Field involves a family housing–led residential development, including homes with gardens, parking and places for children to play.
The Colonnade Land LLP’s proposals included two parkland areas, designed to complement nearby Gobions Park and Thomas Bata Memorial Park.
In his decision letter the Secretary of State concluded that the appeal proposal would cause harm to the Green Belt “by reason of inappropriateness and that there would also be harm to the purposes of the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness”.
However, the letter went on to say that because there was “a need for more land to be brought forward for housing in the Thurrock area”, Mr Pickles gave “significant weight to the quality of design of the proposed scheme and its sensitivity to its setting”.
He concluded that “these together amount to very special circumstances sufficient to justify allowing the appeal”.
In their bid to win planning permission Colonnade listed six key reasons why it should go ahead.
They were:
i) it was a sustainable location for residential development Gateway development;
ii) it offered regenerative benefits for East Tilbury through such in local shops and services;
iii) it was a high quality design;
iv) the site does not positively contribute to the green belt
v) the company would make a contribution towards part of the costs of providing a bridge over the railway at East Tilbury
vi) the site would include the provision of affordable and family housing.
Cllr Terry Hipsey, chair of Thurrock Council’s planning committee, said: “I am very concerned about this decision which could open the floodgates.
“I believe the applicants were able to make their case because of an incomplete local development framework. Thurrock Council has failed to get this in place which didn’t help the Development Corporation make its determination and now I am concerned that this could be first of many developments driving through a legal loophole.
“There may be other major applicants that may now come out the mist. I am very worried.”
In his letter announcing the appeal success Mr Pickles said “The decision was in line with the recommendation of the inspector who handled the recovered appeal inquiry last February. The appeal was against a failure by the Development Corporation to give notice within the prescribed period of a decision on an application for outline planning permission.”