Castle Point ranked worst in England for new houses built
A south Essex borough has been ranked bottom in England for new housing additions, but council leaders say it is not a fair reflection.
Castle Point Council recorded just 0.54 new dwellings per 1,000 existing homes in 2024–25, with a total drop of 86.6 per cent over three years.
This is according to research by CG Bonds, which ranked the area last out of 291 local authorities in England.
Councillor Warren Gibson, deputy leader of Castle Point Council, said: “We are aware of the study suggesting that Castle Point is among the lowest ranking areas for new housing delivery.”
“While we do not dispute that housing delivery has been lower compared to some other areas in the country, it is important to understand the significant physical and environmental constraints that shape development in our borough.”
In 2022–23, net additions stood at 4 per 1,000 before falling to -1.48 in 2023–24, meaning the borough’s housing stock actually declined.
Mr Gibson said: “Castle Point is one of the smallest and most densely populated local authority areas in Essex.”
“Large parts of the borough are affected by flood-risk designations, protected Green Belt land and nationally important ecological sites.”
“These limitations mean that the number of locations where new homes can be safely and responsibly delivered is far more restricted than in most areas of the country.”
“This context is not always captured by comparative datasets.”
The council’s Castle Point Plan proposes around 6,000 new homes over 20 years and has recently been submitted for independent examination.
Mr Gibson said: “The Castle Point Plan, which has recently been submitted for independent examination, proposes a realistic but still substantial level of development of around 6,000 homes over 20 years while ensuring that growth remains safe, sustainable and appropriate for our communities.”
Source: Echo News
