A COUNCIL has been ordered to pay £17,000 to a property developer after refusing permission for 46 seafront flats.

Castle Point Council was ordered to pay the costs of Dedman Planning and Regeneration after the firm won its appeal against the council’s decision to refuse permission for the flats, in Eastern Esplanade, Canvey.

The developer wanted to build a two-storey building with space for shops and lesisure facilities on the ground floor facing the road, and a two-storey block of flats behind.

The development control committee went against the advice of planning officers and rejected the application on the grounds it wanted the land to be used solely for leisure purposes and the proposed development did not include adequate parking.

But the inspector said the councillors’ decision did not stand up to scrutiny.

He said: “There was no reasonable planning grounds for the members’ decision.

“It was contrary to advice and does not bear scrutiny.

“It was not substantiated in evidence and no one attended to defend the decision.”

The planning appeal took place in 2006, but then Dedman ceased trading and did not lodge a formal claim for costs.

This has now been submitted to the council by solicitors that have taken on the developer’s affairs.

The money will have to be taken from the council’s reserves.

Detailed approval for the development was granted in September 2009 and the development is due to start shortly.