In the Gazette’s new general election year feature, we ask the MP and the main contenders to give their views on a local hot topic... With a new Morrisons and 300 homes set for the Lakeside basin, is the area in danger of becoming over developed?

Jackie Doyle-Price, Conservative MP

We need more housing, so that every family that needs one has access to a new home. It rests with the council planning committee to ensure new housing takes place in a managed way.

Any additional burdens on the community should be addressed through contributions from developers.

The local plan has identified such sites, but the committee continues to approve applications on green-belt sites and without appropriate mitigating measures.

For example, the recent application for the London Fire Brigade site in Aveley was approved despite it conflicting with the council’s policy on green belt and despite the developer’s community package being inadequate.

So long as the planning committee does its job, Thurrock need not become overdeveloped, but the buck stops with the councillors on the committee.

Tim Aker, UKIP candidate

Thurrock is over-developed, and this is thanks to Labour and the Conservatives keeping our borders open to the whole of the European Union.

Net immigration into Britain stood at a massive 260,000 last year and this places massive pressure on our infrastructure – housing, schools, roads. Only Ukip would restore proper border controls.

The other parties talk the talk, but judge them on their records. Labour and the Tories are as bad as each other and have done nothing to control immigration. Only Ukip offers an Australian-style points system and proper control of our borders. If you want controlled immigration, vote Ukip.

Isn’t it time for a change?

Polly Billington, Labour candidate

As our community grows, we need to make sure growth works. That means the amenities we need, from shops to schools and GP surgeries, need to come along with more homes.

But the key to this is new business and jobs, including leisure facilities, which is what these plans aim to deliver.

Nobody wants overdevelopment.

We should protect our green belt. That’s why, when homes are built, they should be built on brownfield sites, such as the Lakeside basin.

The council must make sure the developers deliver on their promises. This means money for improving transport links and fixing the roads and footpaths.

With the UK’s worst air quality, every developer should have to account for that in their plans.

It’s good to see an underdeveloped site being put to good use. But it’s also important to preserve and improve other shopping areas in our borough.