A WHOPPING 200 tower blocks would have to be built in Southend town centre to halt plans for hundreds of new green belt homes in a “lunatic” 20-year house-building programme. Southend Council has revealed it would have to build hundreds of new high-rises to stop any new development on the green lung between Southend and Rochford. The stark admission comes as Southend Council’s Labour, Lib Dem and Independent cabinet backed the next stage of consultation over the town’s local plan. READ MORE: The consultation includes proposals to build on green belt land because of Government guidance. However, earlier this month councillors united to oppose plans to build on the green belt, as Southend was given a target of building 23,500 homes.