THE number of new homes earmarked for Tendring could be doubled to more than 12,000 after planning bosses were forced to scrap their original plan.

Despite years of work, Tendring Council’s draft local plan was thrown out by officers as it was expected planning inspectors would reject it following complaints from Colchester Council.

It is feared there could be a free-for-all for developers if a plan is not agreed soon.

Carlo Guglielmi, the council’s cabinet member for planning, said councillors must now go back to the drawing board to come up with a new plan.