PLANS for 850 homes between two south Essex towns, where there is a "severe need" for housing, are set to be agreed.

Councillors will discuss the plans for land near Homestead Road in Bowers Gifford – on the edges of Pitsea and Benfleet.

Basildon Borough Council's planning committee will discuss the plans at a meeting on Wednesday, 1 April.

The site is farmland and was used for dairy farming, with former farm buildings at the site. Details of the proposals, including types of housing and the community centre details, would be revealed and discussed at a later stage.

The planning officer's report states there are "very substantial public benefits of the proposal".

The report also says the development will help the "severe unmet need" for housing and that the benefits "clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and other identified harms."

The plans include a range of affordable housing. The developer, GS8, would also pay more than £16 million in financial contributions to improve services such as schools and health care. The developer is also planning a community centre as part of the plans.

The council officer's report adds: "The proposal also secures a wide range of additional benefits that attract moderate weight.

"These include new community facilities, restoration and reuse of the non-designated heritage assets at Little Chalvedon Hall, and repair and integration of the WWII pillbox within the open space network."