AMBITIOUS proposals to build the world’s largest airport just three miles off the Southend coast have been slammed by one of the town’s MPs.

James Duddridge, the Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East, said the plans by Lord Norman Foster would cause “more problems than benefits”.

Lord Foster, the architect behind Wembley Stadium, has envisaged building a £50billion airport and railway station on the Isle of Grain in Kent.

Mr Duddridge said: “First and foremost, this airport is just not needed and is not wanted by the people of Southend.

“Over recent months, there has been substantial investment and development to increase the passenger capacity at Southend Airport.

“I have remained fully supportive of the expansion plans to our existing airport.

“I do not support an additional, ill-conceived, expensive proposal. This idea was branded about a number of years ago - it was unworkable then, it remains unworkable now.”