COUNCIL bosses say building 7,000 new homes on greenbelt land “is just an option”, but that the borough must build 1,200 homes a year. Southend Council said it will not be able to meet all housing demands by the government by building on urban land, and are also looking at other areas for development. The council is required by the government to bring in 24,000 homes over the next 20 years, and identify land for businesses to accommodate between 10,000 and 12,000 jobs. It has faced criticism for a plan to potentially bring 7,200 homes onto greenbelt land between Sutton Road and Star Lane on the Rochford-Southend border.