PLANS for a brand new estate, offering a mix of houses and flats, has finally won the backing of council officers...after five years of wrangling.

Detailed proposals for 113 homes on Thorney Bay Village, Canvey, have now been backed by Castle Point Council planning officers ahead of a development control meeting next month.

The homes, which will be built next to the beach, will include 24 flats and 89 three, four and five bedroom houses. Static homes, similar to those on Kings Park, could also be coming to the site.

Thorney Bay Village covers an area the size of about 60 football pitches, and it is expected the homes will be built on fields at the eastern end of the site, near the car park.

Barry Campagna, Canvey Independent Party councillor for the island’s South ward, said he has concerns about combining static homes with a new housing estate.

He said: “I think it would be better having park style homes there, and they would be more affordable than upmarket homes.

“I am not sure about combining an estate with the park homes, if it was me I wouldn’t want to live there. I think Thorney Bay will do what is best for them to be honest.

“It doesn’t really help first time buyers to be honest, as the higher end homes will be out of their price range.”

Ray Howard, Tory councillor for Canvey West, said “it is regrettable” that Canvey could lose more open space - putting it down to “changing times.”He said: “I wished Canvey could be open farmlands like it used to be, but it’s a different time now.

“These applicants have the backing of consultee groups, which means if the council refuses, the developer has strong grounds to appeal.” A decision will be made on Tuesday, June 6.