CONTROVERSIAL plans to slash the number of affordable homes for sale on a new 200-home development are set to get the green light.

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

Earlier this year it was revealed the developer wanted to change the planning permission claiming the scheme “cannot support the provision of any affordable homes” despite the plan initially including 65.

Ahead of a Development Control Committee meeting at Southend Council next week, a report has revealed. According to the documents, a maximum of 21 affordable homes are now set to be included, reduced from 30 per cent.

Former councillor and Shoebury resident, Tricia Cowdrey, said: “I will never be happy about the ability of developers to renege on their promise of the inclusion of truly affordable homes in their planning applications.

“The Bellway development is fraught with problems with the focus on flooding and the massive movement of earth across the city, so that issues such as truly affordable housing are often missed.

“The original proposal included retail space and the provision of a new Health Centre as well as a promise of affordable housing.

“The original section 106 agreement included 30 per cent affordable housing. This application requests this be reduced to 10 per cent affordable rented units.

“What developers or politicians see as affordable is not what the public would consider affordable. These are not the council houses of the past or what we would consider ‘social rent’ homes where truly affordable secure housing is an option for those who need it.

“We have so many families on our housing list in Southend. We want to see social housing built but this poor attempt at softening the blow doesn’t go anyway to help meet their needs.”

Bellway Homes highlighted “economic and technical factors” have combined to have a “significant and material negative impact on the viability and deliverability” of the proposed scheme.

The report adds: “Since the signing of the S106 in February 2021 there has been a well-documented and significant downwards shift in the housing market and economy generally.

“In addition, there has been additional cost burdens that were not known when the site was acquired which has materially affected the full delivery of affordable housing required by the original S106.”