IT could be almost two years before the council can get an alternative Local Plan policy rubber-stamped and in place.

Little Oakley Parish Council chairman Tom Howard, who also sits on the Local Plan committee at Tendring, said: “I didn’t vote in favour of the 12,120 homes, which isafigure fromareport looking into the required need in the area – I’m not convinced the figure is correct.

“There is conflicting information such as the population actually reducing by 500 in the ten years from 2001 to 2011, and I confirmed with officers that we were building 400 homes per year in that period."