THURROCK Council is moving ahead with two major social housing projects without a development partner.

Despite the council's dire financial position, it aims to "self-deliver" the long awaited Blackshots scheme and will not be seeking a development partner. The scheme will see the demolition of three dilapidated tower blocks.

At a housing overview and scrutiny meeting on Tuesday, councillors were informed pre application planning discussions had been positive regarding the design of the scheme.

The scheme will deliver 258 homes on two sites at Blackshots – 78 on north site and 180 on the south site. This will consist of 25 houses ten bungalows, 217 flats, and six maisonettes. These will all be affordable and will replace the current 168 homes, of which 156 affordable.

Controversially, the project will involve using a piece of green belt land on Blackshots field which will be replaced at another green belt site.

Cllr Joy Redsell, whose Little Thurrock Blackshots ward is where the three towers are sited, said: "I've not got any problems with the north site because there's enough room there to do it but I don't think we've looked at this widely enough.

"You want to take Blackshots playing field that was given to the people of Thurrock.

"If you're offering a piece of green belt for a playing field why aren't you building on that? You're asking me as a councillor to give one lot of green belt for another lot of green belt."

The council is also developing homes in Teviot Avenue in Aveley.

The plans involve demolishing 36 homes that are currently in a poor condition and replacing them with 48 new homes.

The council plans to set aside £1million to buy out leaseholders and £320,000 to help relocate tenants. They will be a mix of 30 houses and 18 flats.

Cllr Neil Speight said: "I think this a brilliant project. It's exactly what we should be doing long-term. My fear is, given that we've got Blackshots, given we've got the financial situation that we're in and all the other stuff that's going on at the council, are we biting off more than we can chew with this project at this time?

"We're already talking establishing a fund of £1million for leasehold buyout and then I look at the risk rating on the project and we can't even say whether it would get planning permission.

"We've got a reputation for starting infrastructure projects in this borough and not being able to finish them."