Thurrock Council will discuss the future of a social housing development next week, with it’s closure being recommended.
The project, which contains four new homes for Afghan refugees, was rubber stamped by the then Labour Council last year, a decision that drew major opposition from rivals Reform and their then leader Alex Anderson. Since taking control of the council this year, Reform is now looking to abandon the project which has been mired in controversy since its approval.
The project would be funded by a £1.8m grant obtained under the Local Authority Housing Fund, with the council putting in an equal amount.
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The Council faced criticism at the time of approval, with critics claiming the project was being rushed without the necessary scrutiny. The council brushed aside protests from the local residents and independent councillors, with the same sentiments now resurfacing in Commissioners’ comments ahead of the meeting next week.
They say: “This outcome highlights the need for critical lessons to be identified and embedded across the organisation.
“To strengthen the management of significant financial and delivery risks, the Council should implement more rigorous bid appraisal and challenge processes, including formal optimism bias assessments, enhanced project and programme governance arrangements, and clearly defined stage-gate reviews with identified exit strategies before entering into high-value contractual commitments.
“Rebuilding confidence in the Council’s ability to deliver externally funded programmes will be essential, and appropriate measures should be put in place to minimise the risk of similar outcomes arising in the future.”
The project would of brought forward 14 moudlar homes, four of which were earmarked for Afghan refugees, who according to Thurrock Nub News were: “now living in the UK after being forced to leave their native country because of their support for the British during the war in Afghanistan.”
The presence of refugee-specified housing was picked up on Cllr. Anderson in 2025, who said: “The council wants to borrow a seven figure sum to part-fund the purchase of 14 modular homes in Thurrock, 30% of which are specifically earmarked for Afghan resettlement.
“Many of those I represent in Stanford and Corringham will either be, or know families that have been sitting on the Council’s housing list for years and years.
“It’s not in their interest for their council to earmark some properties as reserved for only a particular community. I think it makes a mockery of the system.”
