OUTRAGED residents have slammed a developer’s plan to reduce proposed affordable homes for sale from a controversial development.

Bellway Homes is behind plans to build 214 homes on Shoebury Garrison, between Barge Pier Road and Ness Road.

However the developer has now submitted a change of planning permission to Southend Council claiming the scheme “cannot support the provision of any affordable homes” despite the plan initially including 65.

Bellway Homes highlighted a “downward shift in the housing market” and fears the scheme would not be financially viable if affordable homes are built.

According to the documents, 21 affordable rented homes could be included but this would remain “open to review”.

Initial plans included a health centre and pharmacy, as well as business units to create 40 new jobs, but all these elements have already been removed.

Vice-chairman of the Shoebury Residents Association, Peter Lovett, said: “This is absolutely disgusting, along with the removal of plans for a health centre and a retail park, this makes a mockery of our planning system.

“What about the youngsters of Shoebury, who are forced to live in poor quality, old rentals. It is terrible.

“I knew this would happen though when Bellway took over the site. They didn’t take over the retail site and now there are no promised retail units.

“How do you improve this?”

Kursaal ward councillor Tricia Cowdrey previously represented the Shoebury ward and has spoken out against the plans.

Residents previously objected to the plans on the basis that the homes would be at risk of flooding as the site is to be built on floodplain land.

She said: “A promised health centre and some business units have already gone from the plan, there are no job attached to the site anymore and residents’ main concern remains flooding.

“The downgrading of these affordable homes is not good.

“The money saved from this could be better spent in resolving those issues.”

A spokesperson for Bellway Essex said the company is committed to delivering the scheme, however it must be "financially viable".

“Several factors, including the costs involved in providing a delivery platform to enable work on the site to go ahead, have negatively impacted the viability of the proposed Shoebury Garrison development since outline planning permission was granted in February 2021," a spokesperson said.

“A financial viability assessment carried out by Arebray Development Consultancy has concluded that the delivery of any affordable housing at the development would make the scheme financially unviable.

“Bellway remains committed to delivering affordable housing as part of the development, with measures in place to ensure the wider scheme can be delivered regardless of market condition moving forward.

“We have held discussions with planning officers at Southend Council ahead of submitting a Deed of Variation to amend the number of affordable homes being delivered. This application is now with the council for consideration.”

In the application to Southend Council, Bellway notes a “well-documented and significant downwards shift in the housing market” and additional cost burdens that “were not known when the site was acquired” as justification for cutting back plans.