CLAIMS that the Government plans to build thousands of homes in Stansted as part of a scheme to provide affordable housing in the south east have come under intense criticism.

Reports in several national newspapers claim Chancellor Gordon Brown is planning a massive construction scheme as part of a three-year spending review to be announced next week.

It is suggested that the plans will help provide homes for key workers in the region as well as tackle rocketing house prices. However the Government has dismissed the reports as "speculation".

According to reports, Stansted is one of four sites earmarked, along with Ashford in Kent, Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and the Thames Gateway, east London.

Saffron Walden MP Sir Alan Haselhurst, whose constituency includes Stansted, said there was not much brownfield land in Stansted and any new building would be likely to affect green land.

He said: "There's room for development anywhere if you're prepared to regard open countryside as fair game. There's got to be development but not to the extent that it obliterates the rural area."

Uttlesford Council's Liberal Democrat leader Alan Dean said: "The Stansted area does not need regeneration. It's economy is already overheated and there are no significant rundown areas or brownfield sites to develop.

"The only places round here are greenfield sites in the open countryside, which the Government says it will avoid.

"There is no denying that more low cost homes are needed round here, especially for rent. But recent Tory and Labour Governments have stifled council and housing association building.

"It's no good panicking now by letting private development sharks run amok over the Essex and Herts countryside."

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said: "This is all speculation and has not come from us.

"Anything to do with the spending review we do not comment on and we are treating these reports as pure speculation."

July 9, 2002 11:30