CASTLE Point Council’s planning boss appeared to dismiss Government advice which could save green belt land from development.

The Echo revealed senior planning inspector Keith Holland told the council they would not be forced to build thousands of new homes on green belt if they could prove the area couldn’t cope.

However, Steve Rogers, Castle Point Council’s head of planning, said if the council did not find land to build 4,000 homes in the next 20 years, the Government would not pass their plans.

He said telling the Government they didn’t want to build on green belt would not convince them to lower the number of new houses needed.

Mr Rogers said: “Castle Point does have a number of physical constraints which do limit the amount of housing that can be constructed.

“But, regrettably, green belt is not a physical constraint in the same way as areas at risk of flooding.”

However, Mr Holland said councils would not be forced to release green belt land for development.

Despite this, Mr Rogers said he thought the Government would not approve their housing plan unless they found sites for all 4,000 homes – which means building on green belt.

He said: “Green belt is a creature of policy.

“It is the council’s policy to choose to approve an area of land as green belt.

“The council decides if it continues with that designation, but if it does it has consequences.

“It means your plan has a much greater risk of being found unsound if you cannot demonstrate how you are likely to meet your objectively assessed needs and whether or not you have tried and been successful in persuading you neighbours to meet that need.”

Mr Rogers spoke after an attempt by Tory councillor Andrew Sheldon to spark a debate on Mr Holland’s advice was blocked by committee chairman Norman Smith.

Mr Sheldon read from a transcript of a council video recording of the private meeting, during which Mr Holland spelt out how inspectors would not make councils build on green fields.

The council maintains its plan is following the advice of the inspector and would be unlikely to pass a public examination if the sites for 4,000 new homes are not developed.