NOT long after deciding to dispose of Theydon Bois Youth Centre, Essex County Council has submitted a planning application to develop the site for housing.

The application, submitted to Epping Forest Council, is normal practice for county hall chiefs, who are hoping to make the site more desirable for potential buyers. The outline application for residential development has been put together by the JTS Partnership on behalf of the county council. In a letter to Epping Forest Council, JTS has made assurances that the access to the scout hall behind the site would be maintained.

The letter said: "The county council has declared the youth centre building is surplus to requirements and that the youth service will cease to use the property as from August. The county council has considered other possible uses for the building but there is no ... service which requires the property."

The site, which could accommodate about ten houses, is bordered by residential properties and the application says it will maintain bordering shrubs and trees.

The letter adds: "Access can also be retained in any residential development through the site to the existing Scout Association hall, which borders the site to the north west."

Referring to the future of the centre's current users, the letter adds: "Alternative provisions are currently being put in place at other county council-owned youth service facilities pending completion of a new purpose-built facility in Loughton."

A county council spokeswoman said: "Because the property has been identified as surplus to requirements we put in the application for planning permission so it makes it easier to sell when we get to that stage. It's normal procedure."

The decision to close the centre was taken late last year despite objections from local county councillors, who were angry at the apparent lack of consultation over the proposals