A MAJOR homes development will be built on a flood plain after the plans were given the go ahead by a narrow majority.

Garrison Developments’ application for 214 homes off Barge Pier Road in Shoebury were passed by six votes to five by Southend Council’s development control committee yesterday.

Five councillors abstained from the vote.

Councillors called a motion to defer giving outline planning permission to the scheme after a number of concerns were raised.

These included the properties being built on a flood plain, overdevelopment of the site, with some of the buildings being five storeys high, and the impact on nearby roads.

Councillors voted against the deferral, however, after hearing the council could face a six-figure cost for compensation if the developer appealed the decision.

Chairman, Nick Ward, said: “I have very real problems with this scheme with overdevelopment.

“When it was 172 homes that was enough but 214 homes are far too much.

“There is a problem with the height as well. I want details of the section 106 agreement. I want to know what local roads are going to get and there is a problem with flooding. I still have a problem with homes being built on a flood plain. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

The plans include 115 flats and 99 homes, with a new health centre and pharmacy and 499 parking spaces. The developer will also pay £30,000 towards improvements to the nearby Ness Road and Campfield Road junction though questions were raise over whether this would be enough to improve the busy junction.

The plans also allocate £493,000 towards Shoebury High School under a section 106 agreement.

Shoeburyness Residents’ Association has strongly opposed the development, though councillors heard most would rather see homes on the site rather than industrial units.

Vice chairman, Peter Lovett, said: “I listened to the whole meeting and it was confusing and most members were not happy with the application.

“Shoebury Residents Association have always said that our main concern for anything built on this land is flooding because it is a Grade 3a flood plain, the most serious, other than an actual flood plain.”

The plans include an area designated for a new health centre but there are no plans for the NHS to build one on the site.

Mr Lovett added: “They have accepted that all doctors with over 2,000 patients will reduce the quality of care and most are already above this level, with another doctor in Shoebury closing later this month. They include the health centre knowing it will never be built.”