Plans to regenerate Purfleet, including the creation of a new town centre, are not dead in the water, insists the council's member for regeneration.

Mark Coxshall was put under pressure by Labour's John Kent on the future of the plans for the regeneration of Purfleet as a planning application is yet to be submitted to the council.

Plans promised the development of a film and TV studio, around 2,500 new homes, a new primary school and health centre in the town.

The regeneration of the town centre would also see the removal of the troublesome level crossing and a brand new railway station.

The council and Purfleet Centre Regeneration Ltd (PCRL) signed the development agreement In January 2016 and both hoped building could begin in this year.

But when asked by Mr Kent when the council could expect the plans to be submitted, Mr Coxshall was forced to admit he didn't know.

He said: "I have no news on the planning application. I have no power to compel them to deliver on their promises that they would do it by Christmas or the end of May.

"Sadly under the terms of the development agreement, they can be submitted any time up to February 2018 so there's still some time."

Mr Kent then asked if this hold up meant the scheme was 'dead in the water' but Mr Coxshall insisted this was not the case.

He added: "No. This has to happen. They have until February 2018. We have to wait for them to move forward."