A Clacton councillor has been cross-examined during a public inquiry over his claims Tendring Council can resist ‘inappropriate’ development by arguing it has a five year housing supply.

Richard Everett, UKIP member for Rush Green, made the claim during a hearing into the plans by Bloor Homes for 276 dwellings north of Rush Green Road.

Mr Everett based his claims on studies he made of council planning approvals coupled with council figures for expected demand for housing.

He presented his figures to the inquiry last week, adding he also opposed the housing plans as they would reduce the ‘green gap’ between Jaywick and Clacton, merging the two settlements into one.

Mr Everett told the inquiry at the Weeley Council offices he could show that Tendring Council can demonstrate a 5.61 year housing supply. However, Tendring Council maintains it can only defend a 4.86 year housing supply.

After the hearing, Mr Everett told the Gazette: “I am proud to be the author of this document that leads the way, and gives the ammunition to resist speculative developments in Tendring.”

“It is about time that the Conservative led council realised it cannot just put its head in the sand and pretend it doesn’t have a five-year supply when one obviously exists. The people of Tendring deserve better.

“It is in the interest of our district that speculative developments are able to be refused at planning – to do this the council needs to demonstrate the five-year housing supply now,” he added.

The issue of a five year housing supply matters, because once councils can demonstrate they have one, it makes it easier for them to resist development they consider “inappropriate.”

Earlier this month, Mr Everett distributed copies of his report, which has been adopted as party policy by Tendring’s UKIP councillors, to parish councils across the district.

Last week, Tendring Councillors were told  by Monitoring Officer Lisa Hastings that a report on five year housing supply will be presented to the Local Plan Committee on January 19.

Her email said: “Demonstrating supply is not just about housing numbers. Deliverability is the key. To be considered deliverable, sites should be available, be in a suitable location for development, be achievable (i.e with a realistic prospect that housing will be delivered within five year) and in particular that development is viable.”

Her email also said two barristers had told the council it “did not have a demonstrable housing supply.”

Tendring Council spokesman Nigel Brown confirmed the council rejected Ukip’s view.

It could not yet demonstrate such a supply but the situation was improving.

He added that planning applications will continue to be considered on that basis until such time as a five-year supply can be demonstrated.

The Planning Inspectorate is expected to announce its decision over the Bloor Homes proposal in the New Year.