GIANT tower blocks will dominate the town centre if Government planners take control of plans for more than 20,000 new homes, a historian has warned.

Basildon Council decided to pull its local plan last week, which allocated 20,160 homes to be built across the borough by 2038.

But bosses have now been threatened with Government intervention, which could see planners from Whitehall or Essex County Council deciding the new homes strategy.

The authority now has until next December to devise a new plan, but historian Vin Harrop fears it is far too late.

The 83-year-old from Billericay, who has lived in the area for more than half a century, said: “I can’t see it happening in the short teme as it took about six years before.

“I think the Government will just agree what’s been accepted before which is the huge tower blocks in the town centre.

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“It’s a worry to think central Government could control the future of the town. Nobody wants to see these huge highrise buildings and we’ve all told the council that too.

“I think the issue is politics as the council keeps going from a Labour to Tory leader and it means nothing gets done.”

Council leader Andrew Baggott declined to give details of what a new local plan would like look or how it would be different to the rejected scheme.

But he said the overall number of new homes should be significantly lower than 20,000.

He said: “We need to work and talk to residents much earlier, they know the borough and issues better than us councillors.

“I really do believe this is key to the success of a local plan and the councillors do not necessary know all the information.

“There is a threat of the Government stepping in but they still need to work within the law and use common sense too.

“In the past we’ve focussed too much on the official process and far less on the human element.”

Basildon Council have rejected several proposals for tower blocks, but approved plans for hundreds of flats in 11-storey buildings at the Great Oaks site in the town.