A GOVERNMENT boss is set to intervene after council officials failed to complete a plan showing where 4,000 new homes could be built.

And residents now fear homes will be “squeezed in everywhere they can”.

The Echo has reported the ongoing failings with Castle Point Council’s local plan but can now reveal the stark fears of housing secretary Sajid Javid.

Castle Point Council was issued a warning in November, urging it to complete its 4,000 home local plan by the end of January, or provide exceptional reasons why not.

The council failed to complete the plan and Mr Javid wrote to bosses on March 23, telling them an “intervention” would take place. He also slammed the authority’s lack of action.

of the letter sent by housing minister Sajid Javid, on March 23.

The council failed to complete the plan, and Mr Javid responded by starting the first stages of intervention would take place.

Now, the Echo has seen a copy of the letter, which slams Castle Point’s lack of action.

The letter said: “I note the exceptional circumstances given by your council are that it is constrained by green belt, that the previous plan should not have been found unsound and that you are pursuing a joint plan in south Essex.

“These do not appear to be exceptional circumstances. Green belt challenges are not unique to Castle Point; I have not seen any convincing evidence as to why I should dispute the inspector’s decision to find the previous plan unsound which is in line with decisions on the twelve other authorities who failed the duty to co-operate.”

Mr Javid rubbished the delay, pointing to Basildon and Brentwood councils’ plan to submit proposals.

“The work on the preparation of a joint plan does not appear to be exceptional circumstances, as the other constituent authorities of Basildon and Brentwood are proposing to submit plans.

He added: “Given that your council has said it will not produce a local plan until after the joint plan has been produced and that the joint plan is not due to be submitted until 2020, it appears possible that plan production could be accelerated through intervention.”

And residents are now concerned that government intervention is a real prospect.

Anne Morgan, 57, of Long Road, said: “It is getting to the point where its actually very concerning. “How long have we been talking about this local plan? And we are getting nowhere over and over again.

“Now this intervention looks real. A lot of our Canvey residents have been moaning about the mainland-Canvey divide and don’t want mainland councillors making our decisions, but how will they feel when some big shot in central government is making all these decisions?

“Homes will be squeezed in everywhere they can.”

David Marchant, Castle Point chief executive, said: “It is particularly disappointing that the Secretary of State did not consider the circumstances in Castle Point to be exceptional.

“We are co-operating fully with the Government planning team as they review the history of our local plan to inform the next steps of the Secretary of State.

We will take the opportunity to explain how the ground breaking work that Castle Point is part of with other south Essex authorities must continue to help shape the future of our area.”