THE number of new homes earmarked for Tendring could be doubled to more than 12,000 after planning bosses were forced to scrap their original plan.

Despite years of work, Tendring Council’s draft local plan was thrown out by officers as it was expected planning inspectors would reject it following complaints from Colchester Council.

It is feared there could be a free-for-all for developers if a plan is not agreed soon, but residents and councillors are worried the district does not have the infrastructure, roads and schools to cope with the increase.

Carlo Guglielmi, cabinet member for planning, said councillors must now go back to the drawing board to come up with a new plan.

The original plan included earmarking more than 6,000 new homes over the next 15 years, but it is expected that thousands of extra homes will be needed to keep planning inspectors happy.

Mr Guglielmi said the council’s new local plan committee would “more of less” double that number to 12,000 new homes by 2029 – equivalent to a town half the size of Clacton.

Tendring Council now hopes a new version of the plan can be adopted by April 2016.