THOUSANDS of homes are set to be built across Basildon under proposals put forward by basildon Council which has identified a number of sites where houses could be built.

But it must build double this number to meet the expected housing needs of the borough in the future.

The Council has found sites for 2,919 new homes in the next five years, however, the Government says it must build 6,234 and also insists the council must create an action plan for its housing delivery "as a result of under-delivering on its housing requirement".

Documents from a recent council meeting show housing delivery in the borough was recorded to be 46 per cent of the borough's housing requirement over a three-year period.

Authorities where housing delivery falls below 95 per cent must publish an action plan. 

As part of the action plans, the council must set out the reasons for under-delivery, how to reduce the risk of future under-delivery and what actions are needed to increase delivery. The council meeting documents show Basildon Council is in the ten lowest delivering local planning authorities in the country. 

Sites set to be and being developed under the plans for 2,919 homes include land at Gardiners Lane South, Basildon, where up to 700 homes are set to be built, although the original developer, Inland Homes, is currently in administration but the council expects it will be delivered by an alternative developer in the future. 

Plans for 495 homes in Town Square, Basildon were agreed but the council document also says "it is currently expected that this consent will not be delivered, and there may be further applications to resolve design issues."

Another site included in the 2,919 homes plans, is the redevelopment of the Laindon Shopping Centre with 224 homes, there are also plans agreed for 151 additional flats at Trafford House in Basildon; 99 homes in Southend Road in Great Burstead; and 26 homes on land south of Tyefields, in Basildon.

It comes after Michael Gove, who was Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, named Basildon, along with Castle Point and Uttlesford district councils as "underperformers" in planning and warned the government could intervene last December. 

Cllr Adele Brown, Basildon Council's cabinet member for planning and infrastructure said: "Building homes for Basildon people is our top priority. That's why it's essential that we continue to accelerate the delivery of the Local Plan to put the right governance in place for developing our borough to its full potential.

"The Local Plan will set out how we can develop and grow sustainably to unlock our house-building programme while ensuring we get money for GP surgeries, schools, roads, dentists and public services people rely on."