Two new apartment blocks at former south Essex working man's club approved
Corona Investments Ltd has been granted permission to build two blocks of flats on The New Venue site in Flint Street, West Thurrock.
Extensive buildings which once housed the club have been demolished to make way for the one and two-bedroom apartments.
The first block will be a mix of two and three storeys. All of the ground floor units have a small garden area. The second block will be four-storeys with a flat roof.
The council received two letters of objection with concerns including increased traffic and limited parking along Flint Street. A resident said: 'Whilst Flint Street is a mostly quiet road, it suffers from being a single lane street with extremely limited - often non-existent - passing and turning opportunities.
'If more than one car wants to use the street at any time, it's very problematic.'
Another added: 'Getting a parking space outside your own home is a rare luxury. Get home late of an evening and you're lucky to be able to park in your own street.
'The lack of sufficient parking provision will lead to extra pressure on spaces in Flint Street.'
However, planning officers said: 'In considering the planning balance significant weight is given to the provision of housing where the starting point is a presumption in favour of development.
'Very significant weight is given to the provision of affordable housing and these factors both clearly outweigh the failure of the scheme to address the particular need for three bed houses in the borough.'
Officers raised no concerns about the lack of commercial space. They added: 'Officers place little weight on the commercial designation of the area and place great weight to the continuing need to regenerate the West Thurrock area.
'Officers therefore consider that these factors combined, very clearly outweigh any other considerations.'
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