ROCHFORD Council could find itself im hot water over missed housing targets, according to planning experts.

The Government warned in February it could intervene if local authorities do not get their Local Plans in place

Planning consultants Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners have now published a list of the 21 councils at "most risk" of intervention- with Rochford making an appearance.

The report claims that since Rochford’s Local Plan was passed in 2011, there has been a deficit of 65 homes per year being built in the borough.

A spokesman for Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners said: "Notwithstanding, the report does identify those local planning authorities that will need to speed progress in order to avoid risk of intervention.

"There is a clear geographic clustering of these local planning authorities, with the majority being areas within the metropolitan green belt."

The report admits that the Government has not yet made clear how it would intervene in Local Plans which are perceived as failing.

It speculates that intervention could involve the Planning Inspectorate being drafted in to prepare plans or get the private sector involved.

Rochford’s Local Plan has been highly controversial, with campaigner Linda Kendall losing a High Court battle against the policy.

It stipulates that the council should build around 250 homes per year, but the planning consultancy firm said the authority was building nowhere near this amount every year.

Nonetheless, there have been major housing sites come forward in the likes of Hullbridge, Hockley, and Rochford, in the past few years.

Essex locations Brentwood, Chelmsford, and Epping Forest were also named in the report as local authorities at risk of intervention.

Basildon Council and Castle Point Council still need to submit their Local Plans before the end of the year, otherwise they will face Government intervention too.

Last month, Castle Point councillors voted in favour of its new draft plan, despite admitting it is likely to be turned by the Government as it only sets out sites for 2,000 homes- half of the borough's target.

Rochford Council defended its position, and a spokeswoman said: “The council’s Local Plan not only meets Government housing targets for the district, but also ensures that there is significant local control over the type and location of development. Those authorities without a Local Plan in place do not have the same level of control over development.

“The local authority prepares planning policy documents and allocates the land but it is then down to the developers to build the homes, and construction can be subject to delays for various reasons.

“It is also important to note that we are in the process of reviewing our Local Plan in order to keep up-to-date with changes to Government policy.”