Councillors oppose government housing plans

Thursday, 26 November 2009

COUNCILLORS have rejected a government scheme to increase housing in Castle Point.

Castle Point Council’s cabinet joined other Essex authorities in opposing the East of England Regional Assembly’s plans for economic growth in the county between 2011 and 2031.

Council members rejected four different options in the meeting last Tuesday - all leading to an increase in housing in the borough.

Under the options, Castle Point could have to find room for up to 3,000 more homes between 2026 and 2031 on top of the 5,000 that must be built by 2026.

Councillor Pam Challis (Con, St Peter’s), leader of Castle Point Council, said: “By councils joining together, this gives a strong message that these proposals are unacceptable and need to be looked at again.

“It’s the first time we have had such a concerted response and I hope that with Essex being such a large part of the region, we will have a big say.”

Castle Point Council is concerned that while proposals to increase jobs are welcomed, there is little room to accommodate extra housing beyond the middle of the 2020s.

Members have demanded that ERRA consider alternative proposals to reduce housing growth and consider demands on the infrastructure.

The Assembly start consultations in September and all feedback was needed by Tuesday.

Adrian Cannard, head of planning and housing for ERRA, said: “We do need to make appropriate plans for the future so people have a decent place to live at an affordable price.

“The alternative is even longer housing waiting lists or young families unable to buy their own home.”

Government commissioned ERRA in January 2008 to produce the plan, which predicts Essex will grow by more than 300,000 people by 2031.

The document considers issues such as the borough’s ageing population, birth to death rate ratios and workers moving into the area.

Email: castlepoint@yellowad.co.uk

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