A top councillor has moved to reassure people that the Queenborough and Rushenden Regeneration project is moving forward.

Portfolio holder for regeneration Cllr John Wright was speaking after residents demanded answers about the scheme’s progress.

A meeting was held on Tuesday for those involved in the £400m project.

Although the opening of the Rushenden Relief Road has been pushed back to the end of the year, Cllr Wright says there is progress.

He says when the masterplan was approved it was at “the height of the market” and they will have to revise the plan to look at what is now affordable and viable.

This could include a change to the 2,000 residential units which were promised.

And it is likely the housing aspect will see fewer apartments and more family homes because market conditions have changed.

The council is also awaiting planning applications from the soon-to-be-abolished South East England Development Agency (Seeda).

Behind the scenes, Seeda had to acquire the site, get it into the planning system, carry out a community consultation as to what was feasible and above all before any work could start, the relief road has to be completed.

The marina, community facilities and school are still planned and Cllr Wright said they were a primary aim of the council and partners.

Work on the Rushenden Retrofit is also due to start next month.

He said: “We are hoping the applications can be in and sorted this year and it will hopefully be finished [ready for marketing] some time next year.

“As with all building projects, it could be delayed slightly for operational reasons.

“It’s happening but slowly and now the whole idea is to get a site that’s ready for the market.

“It’s a huge project and it’s not going to happen overnight or in a year.

“If Vestas come [to the docks], that will bring jobs and opportunity and ambition for people to buy houses so there will be that market and it will come forward more quickly.

“We still have the same aspirations for the area to really join the communities of Rushenden and Queenborough together with a heart.”

More concrete news came in March when Morrisons announced plans to build a superstore at Neats Court.

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Before the meeting had taken place, Queenborough town councillor Jeff Andrews had demanded answers.

He said: “I think putting back the finishing of the road is scandalous. It will now be six months later and I’m wondering whether there’s going to be a further set back.

“It was supposed to be all kinds of things but I’m one of those people that I will believe these things when I see them.

“Having had Aldi pull out I’m wary about any of the others.

“Once that road is open, access to Rushenden and that part of Queenborough will be so much easier for people coming on the Island and I think it will encourage companies interested in coming here to move their premises.

“But it’s time they came up front and told us openly what’s going to happen and when."