TESCO has again been criticised for dropping low-cost housing from its new town centre store plan for Southend.

The company said the economic situation made it no longer viable to include new affordable homes in its plan for the B&Q site next to Southend Victoria rail station.

At Southend Council’s full meeting, Jim Clinkscales (Lib Dem, Blenheim) said: “Tesco needs the High Street and we should tell it we will not accept this unless there is affordable housing.”

He was supported by Ron Woodley (Ind, Thorpe) who said: “We should urge people not to shop at Tesco unless we have the affordable housing we were promised.”

However Ian Gilbert (Lab, Victoria) said: “While it is always regrettable to lose affordable housing, we do not want high rise development in Victoria Ward.

“With this scheme there were serious concerns about car parking among local people and these still remain, whether or not affordable housing is included.”

Alan Crystall (Lib Dem, Leigh) said it was a shame Tesco could not be persuaded to provide a small area of land somewhere in the development for affordable housing.

However, councillor responsible for support services Andrew Moring said the council could not reject Tesco’s proposals as the site was earmarked for shopping.

The company has yet to submit a planning application to the council for consideration.