MOOTED Government plans to build more than 1,000 homes in Colchester every year have been criticised by senior councillors.

Government bosses have launched a consultation on how to boost housing supply in England which could see the planning system reformed.

As part of the proposals, instead of 920 houses being built in Colchester per year, as has been earmarked in Colchester Council’s draft Local Plan, a total of 1,095 per annum could be imposed.

During a meeting of the council’s local plan committee, chairman Martin Goss suggested councils across the country should be aware of the consultation.

He said: “There has been a lot of talk about housing numbers.

“Colchester would be expected to increase housing numbers by approximately 20 per cent per annum.

“It is not something which is set in stone but certainly something which could happen and is something which could affect a lot of councils around the country.”

Colchester Council’s cabinet are expected to provide a formal comment on the Government’s proposals when they meet later this month.

Deputy leader Tim Young (Lab) whose business and culture portfolio includes the Local Plan, said he feared the Government would take over the process.

He said: “To go to around 1,100 homes per year would be almost impossible.

“It would see the Government almost take over the local plan process rather than it being locally decided which is what we all want.”

The council’s strategy place manager Karen Syrett suggested new methodology which may see London authorities provide an extra 30,000 homes could impact neighbouring councils in the long run.

Nigel Chapman (Con) said he was concerned Colchester could end up becoming an outpost of London.

He said: “I have grave concerns about how the numbers are going up and up.

“Eventually London will increase so far it will get up to Colchester and we have to have a plan on how to deal with that.

“The numbers we are talking about are peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

“The way things are going will mean people will never be able to aspire to own their own homes.”

Highwoods Independent councillor Gerard Oxford said the mooted numbers were back to what Government officials had originally wanted to see built in Colchester.

He said: “When we started the process for the upcoming local plan the Government wanted us to build 1,100 houses per year.

“Using a well researched evidence base we reduced it to 920.

“Now they say they want us to build 175 more and you are back to the original number.”