Concerns have been raised that a plan to guide Burnham’s future development will not “hold weight” due to a lack of support.

Burnham Town Council, which is in the process of making a neighbourhood plan, spent £10,000 earlier this year on recruiting planning consultants Allies and Morrison.

The plan, which will be part of Maldon District Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP), will be a legal document setting out guidelines for planners and developers on how residents want the allocated housing to be designed.

The draft LDP has allocated a minimum of 450 houses to be built in Burnham between 2014 and 2029, which will be spread out with 180 to the west, 180 in the north-west and 90 homes to the north-east.

Despite plenty of Burnham residents initially taking part, councillors are worried that the neighbourhood plan may fall apart after dwindling public involvement.