Plans for a new 14,000-home community at East Tilbury, close to the Thames in Essex, looks likely to attract opposition from local environmental groups since part of the scheme is on greenbelt land. Thamesgate Developments, a joint venture between local housebuilder Lansbury and Alastair Watson, is hoping to create a new town, including parks, medical centres and schools. While it is hoped that government will support the plans, opposition is likely to be fierce. <p></p><p>President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Sir Max Hastings, recently accused the government of "nibbling hungrily" at the region’s greenbelt. Said Hastings: "Speculators are selling plots within greenbelt land, holding out to buyers the prospect that a government which is already nibbling hungrily at it will soon allow planning consents to be given in others. These circling sharks are disturbingly confident that Whitehall will throw them raw meat because there is already blood on the water." </p>