UNPOPULAR housing targets scrapped by the Government in the face of public opposition look set to be retained by Castle Point Council.

Under the old Labour government, the council was told it would have to make sure 5,000 new homes were built in the borough between 2001 and 2026.

The council drew up a plan, known as a core strategy, for where the homes could go which included proposals to build on green belt on Canvey and at Daws Heath. The blueprint also outlines plans for new jobs, plus health, leisure and education facilities, but the housing proposals caused outrage among local residents.

In June, the new Government announced it was abolishing the targets, just before a planning inspector was about to begin a hearing into the blueprint.

As a result the inspector postponed the hearing sessions into the housing element of the plan to give the council time to respond to the national developments.

However, after reviewing the situation, council officers believe there is still a need for 5,000 new homes and are sticking with the figure.

Paul Saunders, from Hands off our Green Belt, said: “We are saddened. It seems to be a missed opportunity for the borough when the Government is saying we are not tied to the old quotas.”

The group was set up to fight plans in the core strategy for about 550 homes on land north of Daws Heath Road in Thundersley. The proposal was removed from the blueprint following fierce opposition, but is currently the subject of a planning application for 240 homes by Barratts.

Mr Saunders, 57, of Daws Heath Road, added: “We fought long and hard to get the land removed from the core strategy and we will fight long and hard again to protect the land.”

Members of the Canvey Island Green Belt Campaign had been hoping plans for 400 homes on green belt near to the Dutch Village would be shelved once the targets were scrapped.

Campaign leader Graham Bracci, 61, of Holland Avenue, said: “It doesn’t surprise me they’re going to stick to the target, even though they had an option to set their own targets.

“I think they’re still more concerned about mainland green belt than Canvey green belt.”

The officer’s proposal to stick with the 5,000 figure will be debated by councillors during a meeting of a policy development group at the council’s offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley, at 7.30pm tonight.

Councillors can then advise the cabinet on how to proceed, but the final decision will rest with the cabinet.