Graham Butland, leader of Braintree Council, said the current plan was "not a safe bet"
Councillors are set to make a final decision on whether they should stop working on the current housing plan for the district tonight.
According to new housing projections and Government guidance, the council now needs to build up to 883 houses per year - a sharp rise from its original target of 272.
This could mean 513 are built in Halstead.
Councillors at a LDF sub-committee meeting this month recommended that the council does not carry on with the Local Development Framework and instead produce a revised plan, due to be completed in early 2017.
Councillors will discuss whether to follow the recommendation at tonight’s full council meeting.
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