A FIVE storey building containing sheltered flats for older people is set to be approved after an Essex council disregarded claims the scheme would be "overbearing".

Members of Basildon Borough Council's planning committee voted against an officers' recommendation to refuse the application for 26 flats for people over 55 at a meeting last night (July 20).

A council report published ahead of the meeting claimed the proposals were out of keeping with the surrounding area, and lacked an agreement to build affordable housing. It featured on Basildon Nub News.

However, councillors said they thought the building would be an improvement to the area and disagreed it would be out of place, particularly after a nearby shopping centre in Laindon has been completed.

According to the report, the applicants are willing to ensure eight of the flats are affordable if a housing association agrees to take them on, or provide a contribution to off-site affordable housing if this is not possible.

Because the recommendation to refuse permission has been overturned, the application is automatically deferred and will come back to the committee after a series of planning conditions has been agreed.

Cllr Alex Harrison said at the meeting: "It ticks all the boxes for me, I can't think of any reason to reject it, in terms of style and location".

Cllr Andrew Schrader said: "I think it's a really nice little scheme. I don't personally think it's out of keeping, I don't think it's offensively high".

Two Laindon Park ward councillors, Jeff Henry and John Scarola also wrote to the committee to support the scheme.

Michael Janaway, the applicant, told the committee the plans are an opportunity to "give something back to the community" and would offer older people in Laindon a secure place to live and release other properties in the district for younger people.

He said: "This is a much needed scheme for the over 55s and will be built to a very high standard using local tradesmen and local suppliers. Approving this application you will be creating a community within a community."

A garage providing MOTs and repairs at the site in High Road would be demolished to make way for the building.

But according to a design and access statement for the proposals, the business would be relocated within the borough, meaning there would be no loss of employment.

The plans are expected to return to the committee once a Section 106 agreement, a tax levied by councils on developers, has been made.