Basildon Council has criticised housing plans in neighbouring Brentwood amid ongoing concerns about a proposed 6,000-home development.

Planning officers in Basildon believe Brentwood’s local plan, which details future growth areas, has been compiled without proper environmental, transport and economic studies.

Basildon Council also believes Brentwood has not reviewed its green belt land to identify where growth could best be located.

Brentwood is currently consulting on potential growth areas and suggests land south of the A127, away from the borough’s main residential areas, could be key for growth.

A separate joint consultation is taking place on the proposed Dunton Garden Suburb, a development of up to 6,000 homes which crosses the boundary between the two boroughs.

Richard Moore, Basildon councillor reponsible for planning and regeneration, said the process is flawed without the availability of crucial evidence.

Mr Moore said: “Regardless of how popular a location may or may not be with local people, one cannot assume it is any more or less suitable for development without evidence.

“Furthermore, it is difficult to see how Brentwood can engage in any meaningful consultation with so many critical pieces of evidence missing and there is no audit trail.

“At the moment we are hopeful that Brentwood will take our views on board and that it will revise and repeat its strategic growth options exercise.

“But if the plan proceeds in its current form, we believe it is untenable and we will make our views known to the planning inspectorate at the public inquiry.”