ONLY a portion of 1,138 homes earmarked for Harwich and Dovercourt may ever be built after it was revealed just half of the 12,000 planned for the district will be constructed.

Tory-run Tendring Council has been criticised by residents and rival politicians over plans to set aside sites for 12,000 homes as part of its blueprint for development over the next 15 years.

An original proposal for just 6,000 was withdrawn after planning inspectors warned it would be rejected for not catering for the full need of the area.

But in an open letter to residents, Mr Page said “no one” wants to see 12,000 homes built in the district and “all the evidence tells us that in reality it is not going to happen”.

Read the full story in this week's Standard, out now.