A COUNCIL has received a shot across the bows for missing strict Government housebuilding targets.

Rochford District Council has failed to allow the building of the required number of homes over the past three years, a letter from the Ministry of Housing states.

The letter, seen by the Echo, was sent to Tory council leader Mike Steptoe in February, confirms the council fell short of its target of 876 homes – and had only seen 677 built.

It comes after months of residents and campaigners criticising plans for large scale developments in Rochford.

Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said in the letter: “I understand that these targets are very stretching and that each area has its own challenges.

“The Government has set out a clear ambition to build the homes this country needs, aiming to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.

“It will be vital that Rochford plays its part to achieve this.

“You will need to work with the community and consider all options available to increase housing supply. I appreciate this is not an easy task.”

Campaigners have questioned why the council is now being criticised over the thorny issue.

Christine Austin, a founding member of the Rochford Supporters Group, which has opposed large developments in Rochford and submitted a vote of no confidence petition in the council in recent months, said: “It’s a bit suspicious with the timing of it.

“It’s quite convenient with everything that’s going on with housing in the district at the moment.

“Other councils have got away with not meeting their targets for years. Why has Rochford been pulled up on it now? It’s all a bit suspicious.

“It’s smoke and mirrors if you ask me.”

A spokesman for Rochford Council, said: “The Government tests anticipate that over a three year period from 2016 to 2019, the number of homes required in Rochford is 876.

In fact, the number delivered in the district over the period was 77 per cent of the required total.

“The letter simply points out the importance for the council of looking at ways of working with our community to increase housing supply.

“We are confident that over the next accounting period, the number of new homes will increase to enable the district to meet its obligations.”