“We will leave a legacy of concrete” a leading councillor declared as councillors voted through a plan to build thousands of homes in Castle Point.

Almost 4,000 homes will be built over the next 15 years, with councillors forced to vote through the plan with fears of government intervention if they did not.

Major concerns were raised over a loss of open space in the borough, with sites such as the Dutch Village, on Canvey earmarked for hundreds of homes.

The site has been included despite a government planing inspectorate stating it is a flood risk and an unnecessary loss of open space recently when an appeal to build stables was rejected.

During the meeting, on Tuesday night, Canvey Independent leader, Dave Blackwell, of the Canvey central ward, raised serious concerns over both open space and infrastructure.

He said: “Green belt is important in this area, simply because it is there for a purpose. To stop urban sprawl.

“This plan will create urban sprawl.

“I have been here for 25 years and voted against every plan that centres on the green belt.

“If you look at government policy, it says do not build on green belt.

“Our MP says on her website she will not build on green belt.

“We should respect what we have. Why should we give a legacy of concrete to our children.”

And residents echoed the sentiment.

Joan Thomas, 56, of Long Road, said: “We are so lucky that we have so much open space in this area, and people have fought hard to protect it. Why lose all that now?

“It is such a shame, surely you cannot let people do this.”

The plan will now go to consultation, with Conservative councillors voting unanimously in its favour, while all 15 Canvey Independent Party voted against.

Despite concerns, Conservative Chas Mumford, of the Boyce ward, said: “On the topic of green belt, the question we must ask ourselves is, would blocking the plan stop building on green belt? the answer is a categorical no.

“And the risks associated with not adopting a local plan are many, including speculative development on any site not protected by a plan, the prospect of endless planning appeal hearings and associated costs for the council and tax payers, the possibility of direct government intervention and the loss of local control, with no input from the local community.

“We will lose the protection of green belt if it is not included in a local plan.

“One of the councillors said tonight this plan would lose 8 per cent of green belt, we run a risk of losing a lot more if it is not protected. This plan protects our green belt.”

The plan proposes 3, 774 homes across 24 sites.

The council was initially threatened with government intervention in December 2017, before rejecting a plan in November 2018.