Green light for Canvey business park which could create 500 new jobs

Castle Point Council's development control committee has granted outline permission for the development, off Roscommon Way, after deferring the decision twice in earlier meetings.

The business park will include a car showroom, offices, cafes and industrial units.

The development has been hailed as a major step towards ensuring residents have more job opportunities on the island.

Norman Smith, councillor responsible for regeneration and business, said: “I think this is a good news story for our borough.

We will have local jobs for local people which will stop people travelling off the island.

“I think this will attract new businesses to the island with modern units, which is what we need.

“Most of our working population commutes off the island and we badly need this range of offices.”

Objections were previously lodged against the application because of concerns about the land being a flood risk, and damage to wildlife living there.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, planning agent Christopher Wickham said: “The proposal will deliver a range of employment opportunities and different types of jobs.

“We estimate it will be approximately 500 jobs created and we would certainly expect many of those to be filled by local people.

“We recognise flooding is a key concern on Canvey and it is clear the development will not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere.”

The application was passed by six votes to four, with members of Canvey Independent Party voicing concerns about flooding.

Party leader Dave Blackwell said: “We need to allay the fears of residents. People on Canvey are very fearful of flooding. Here we have a big development which is going to produce jobs, but is it going to produce excess water to block the system?

“An awful lot of work needs to be done and it’s not always the developers’ fault.”

Conservation charity Buglife claims the business park would endanger a rare species of bees, while other wildlife groups argue the development is too close to Canvey Wick, which is safeguarded as an area of special scientific interest.

Mr Blackwell added: “The biodiversity of this borough is very important and these are very important habitats.”

The approval has established the principle of the scheme, but developer Inner London Group must now submit detailed plans before building work can begin.

A detailed planning application is expected to follow in the coming months.

Mark Farrier, a partner at Inner London Group, said: “We are, of course, delighted the application has been approved and look forward to progressing the reserved matters as soon as possible.”