Fresh plans for Westmoor Farm bootfair site in Rainham

Since then, The Leigh Academy secondary school has been built on part of the site, where the Westmoor Farm bootfairs were held, which opened in September.

Now Bellway Homes has applied for planning permission to build 74 homes on the remaining parcel of land between the school and the A2.

The development will have 25% affordable housing and include a children's play area. It will be accessed from the new roundabout and road going into the school from Otterham Quay Lane.

In a planning statement, Bellway said: "The currently proposed development site covers a much smaller area and the surroundings and the local context of the site have changed significantly since the previous planning applications were submitted, not least with the dividing up of the larger parcel and the construction of the Leigh Academy and associated playing fields and infrastructure to the north of the currently proposed site."

This part of Rainham is subject to several ongoing development plans within a one mile area.

Since the first application for the bootfair field was rejected, 300 homes were approved for the land on the other side of the school and work has started on the development, called Otterham Park.

In March this year Gladman opened a consultation to build 74 homes on orchards between Lower Rainham Road and Otterham Quay Lane.

In August last year, outline permission was granted for 202 homes at Woolley's Orchard, off Lower Rainham Road, where the boot fairs also used to be held.

Bellway also began work at a site off Lower Rainham Road, next to Berengrave Nature Reserve, in June where it is building 79 new homes.

The original application for Westmoor Farm faced huge opposition from people living nearby - and there were posters put up along with smiley faces when it was rejected.

The developer appealed in 2016 on the grounds of non-determination. But was appeal was dismissed and planning permission was refused.

The new plans include the creation of two distinct areas of development, with different styles of housing and layout, to maintain a sense of separation between Rainham and the Moor Street area.

The two areas would be divided by a large green space which would also mean they wouldn't be new homes immediately behind the Grade II listed Westmoor Cottage.

The planning report concludes: "The proposal would provide much needed homes towards the council’s extremely poor housing land supply.

"The council is unable to demonstrate a robust five-year supply of housing land and so the ability to deliver housing at this sustainable location should be viewed favourably."

The boot fair has now moved to another site in South Bush Lane, just off the A2.