Councillors in Basildon have voted to look again at plans to build up to 20,000 new homes in the borough over the next decade.

The decision was made at an emergency council meeting.

Tory councillors at Basildon Council voted to send the contentious Local Plan back to Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

The next meeting is expected to be held in the next two weeks.

It means they’ll reconsider plans for 300 new homes near Billericay and increasing traveller pitches on existing sites rather than building new ones.

The meeting was chaired by David Dadds, mayor of Basildon.

It was a heated debate with Labour, Indepedent and Ukip councillors objecting to the Tory plans.

Labour councillor Gavin Callaghan spent most of the time shouting out criticisms of the Tory administration.

Mayor, David Dadds tried on various occasions to silence the Labour councillor.

The scheme was agreed in March under the Labour, Ukip and Independent administration, but Basildon Tories came to power in May promising to make big changes to the scheme.

During the meeting Leader Andrew Baggott said he met with the Housing Secretary James Brokenshire MP and that the Government minister expressed sympathy to the fact that the Tories are still quite new as administration of the council.

Basildon Labour Leader Adele Brown asked how councillors were expected to vote on making changes to the plan as she claimed the councillors did not have enough information.

The motion was passed, as the Basildon Tories have a majority. There were 22 votes for and 15 against.

After the meeting the Tory and Labour leaders gave their reaction.

Mr Baggott said: “I am very pleased with the result of the meeting as now we can do what we pledged to do regarding the local plan.

“We can make sure that we do what is best and needed for our borough.

Ms Brown said: “It affects the timetable that we have to deliver this local plan and it’s no good councillor Baggott saying it won’t affect this.”