PLANS to build 250 homes on fields near Benfleet are being considered by the council.

Castle Point Council has held talks with developer Brian White about building on land near Jotmans Hall Farm, off Canvey Road.

The council said the details of the talks were commercially sensitive, but sources have said the proposal is for 250 homes on the site.

The land is owned by Benfleet-based developer Brian White, who also owns the Oysterfleet Hotel, on Canvey.

In 2004, Mr White applied to build a 60-bedroom hotel, pub and restaurant complex on the same site.

The plans were backed by the council, but were turned down by the planning inspector because they broke green belt planning rules.

Norman Smith, Castle Point councillor for regeneration said: “We are seeking to speak to all site owners who have previously submitted planning proposals to see if they are still keen to go ahead.

“It’s no good us proposing a new site to the planning inspector if we then find out the developer is no longer interested.”

The council is currently holding a borough-wide review of potential sites to build 1,000 new homes, which was sparked after Government planning inspector Paul Crysell criticised the authority’s current house- building plans as undeliverable.

Mr Crysell is reviewing the authority’s Core Strategy document, which outlines where all development in the borough should take place over the next 15 years.

Once the review is completed they will be considered by councillors in September.

A new list of sites for house building will then be sent to the planning inspector.

Other sites being considered include green fields to the north of Daws Heath Road, in Thundersley, and land to the west of Glebelands, in Benfleet.

The Echo tried to contact Mr White, but he was unavailable