A team of government experts will be sent into Castle Point Council to investigate why it has not completed its housing plan. 

Housing secretary Sajid Javid as written to the council to inform it that government experts will assess whether government intervention is necessary to complete the plan.

Essex Council have been approached, and could be asked to take  for Castle Point's plan.

In November, Mr Javid wrote to Castle Point and said he was formally starting the intervention process.

He gave the authority until January 31 to provide any ‘exceptional circumstances’ for why Government should not intervene and take over creation of the plan. 

Castle Point was one of 15 local authorities to receive the threat. 

Three of those local authorities have failed to make significant process, including Castle Point, and now face the threat of intervention.

A statement published by Government today said: “In Castle Point, Thanet and Wirral, the Government’s chief planner and a team of experts will be sent in to assess if the Government needs to take over the process of producing the plan.”

Mr Javid said: “Whilst most council rightly recognise their responsibilities and most have worked hard to meet the housing challenge, some have failed. 

“I expect those authorities we identified in November to continue to make progress. I’m also stepping it up with three councils in particular, sending in a team of experts to make a direct assessment, ensuring they plan properly for the future – or we’ll have to do it for them.”