GIANT tower blocks planned for the town centre could spark anti-social behaviour, a planning consultant has warned.

The expert witness, brought in by Basildon Council, raised concerns about the proposals for the 17 storey blocks of 492 homes on land at Market Square, Basildon.

A planning appeal over the flats is being held with Basildon Council and developer Orwell.

Michael Lowndes, a planning consultant, told the online hearing yesterday the layout of the tower blocks may lead to anti-social behaviour.

He said: “There are aspects I would not lead to a safe and inclusive environment and the change and orientation could lead to anti-social behaviour.

“I do not think it adds to the quality of the area and the full scale change is less distinctive.

“The buildings undermine the characteristics of the area.

“In the context I do not think it’s attractive and think it’s challenging and alien and the layout would be profoundly unattractive.

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“Trafford House planned increases in height are not influential to this plan and there is no evidence that more than one prominent building was envisaged at the start of planning the new town.”

The plans were previously accepted by councillors on two separate occasions earlier this year - before being swiftly rejected by the Conservatives.

They previously described the homes as “rabbit cages”

due to their fears over the size.

On Tuesday, Neil Deely, an architect called in by the council as an expert witness, said the design of the homes on land at Market Square, Basildon was “poor” during the opening of the hearing.

Echo:

Speaking yesterday, Mr Lowndes added: “As we heard there isn’t much delight on perception of the appeal scheme.

“There is nothing prescriptive in the 2012 masterplan about height of redevelopment, but is explicit expectation that replacement should be consistent with lower horizontally arranged buildings and a single tall building.”

The development would replace the Moon on the Square pub, Greggs and a Subway.

The appeal is costing Basildon Council and taxpayers around £2million in legal fees.

The hearing continues