Support withdrawn for 10,000 homes plan near city

Councillors voted to tell the government they would be withdrawing an expression of interest in the development

Pressure on towns and villages have made plans for 10,000 new homes "unsuitable", a council leader said.

It came as Rochford District Council withdrew its support for the new town on land sprawling across Southend-on-Sea and Shoeburyness.

The local authority made the decision during a meeting of its planning policy committee.

Conservative leader Danielle Belton said: "Our district simply does not have the capacity for this scale of development."

The council had previously submitted a joint "expression of interest" to the government with Southend-on-Sea City Council, which has not reversed its support.

A report discussed during the meeting showed the new town would have included a new country park.

The earmarked land was north of Fossetts Way and Bournes Green Close.

The council issued a graphic showing the scale of the development

Councillors voted to tell the government they would be withdrawing an expression of interest in the development.

Belton said there was no evidence to show 10,000 homes were needed in the area.

"Continuing to support the EOI [Expression of Interest] risks giving the impression that we endorse vast, unsuitable growth, at a time when our towns and villages are already under pressure," she added.