The council, which had previously objected to the original proposals approved in 2010, raised concerns about the cumulative impact of subsequent changes to the scheme. A call-in request was first made in 2025 and renewed in August 2026 following amendments by the site owners.
While some previous concerns were addressed, the council remained worried that the combined changes would fundamentally alter the development originally approved, affecting its form, operation, phasing, and environmental assumptions.
“"We are disappointed that the Secretary of State has decided not to call in these applications. We made our request because we continue to have significant concerns about the cumulative impact of the proposed changes and the extent to which the scheme has evolved since it was originally considered and approved at national level in 2010."
“"Given the scale and significance of those changes, we believed there was a strong case for the applications to be considered by the Secretary of State."
“"While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, we will continue to represent the interests and concerns of our residents and ensure that the implications of these applications are fully considered through the planning process."
The applications will now be determined by Essex County Council, the relevant mineral waste planning authority.
