A LARGE number of column inches have been filled in our local newspapers – and a great deal spoken – over the past few months on the subject of the Tendring Local Plan and the need to allocate sufficient land for new homes over the next 15 years.

Let’s be totally honest about it and say that no one – that’s no one – wants to see 12,100 homes built across the district over that period of time and all the evidence tells us that in reality it is not going to happen.

Past experience and past statistics show even if the land for that figure is allocated it does NOT mean that number of homes will ever be constructed.

The average is around 400 properties per year over the past 15 years.

That is what the market has demanded and if that continued over the next 15 years that would mean around 6,000.

Developers will not build 12,100 properties if they know they are not going to sell them – and that is what will dictate the final number of homes.

But we are still required to allocate more land than will actually be needed.

How then do we come to a land allocation of 12,100 properties? We accept and agree the Government has not set that actual figure for Tendring.

But what its own officials and inspectors tell us is we have to come up with a number based on robust evidence and based on cooperation with neighbouring councils and other public bodies. In making the calculations, the figure arrived at is 12,100.

However, to make sure that is correct we will check, refresh and challenge all evidence again. Our first attempt at a Local Plan was based on consultation with residents, businesses, our own councillors and other interested parties.

We arrived at a figure of 6,000 homes, but we knew it was unlikely to be accepted. And, as feared, when presented to Government inspectors for their view we were told it was totally unacceptable.

We had not co-operated fully with our neighbours, it did not provide enough land for at least five years and it also failed to provide what the evidence told us was needed.

While we would have been delighted to go ahead with a Local Plan for 6,000 new homes, it was made absolutely clear we could not do so.

Our plan would have been thrown out at a public inquiry and developers would have a free rein to build where they wanted. We might oppose their applications, but we would not win if they appealed as we had no approved plan.

What we need to do is to continue in a way that will see the development we need and want – where it is appropriate for Tendring and bring with it the required and necessary infrastructure and health needs.

Councillor Mick Page, Leader of Tendring District Council