A LEADING councillor says building on Ballards Walk is vital to help design new homes for the borough’s population.

Malcolm Buckley, Basildon councillor responsible for regeneration, wants high-quality homes, including bungalows for the elderly, built on the land off Lee Chapel North, in Laindon.

Several developers have already expressed an interest in the land following an official bidders’ event hosted by Basildon Council, and Mr Buckley said he was now waiting for formal bids to be submitted.

Mr Buckley said: “I understand people object to development anywhere but, having agreed to dipose of that site, what we want to see is a development that enhances the area rather than detracts from it.

“We want something of a good quality design that meets the needs and aspirations of local people.

“If you look around Lee Chapel North, some of the designs of homes there are not architecturally pleasing and we want homes and the sort of estate people want to live in.”

He added: “We would like very much to see some bungalows for our ageing population who don’t particularly want to live in flats or homes with upstairs as they become more infirm.” Basildon Council has already agreed planning permission for 135 homes, made up of two, three and four bedroom homes on the land.

If the authority’s councillors approve them, the council will then sell the land to developers to build the homes.

Residents in Ballards Walk say the plans will rob them of much loved green space and place added pressure on surrounding roads, schools and GP surgeries due to the rise in the local population.

However, Basildon Council is adamant 40 per cent of the site would remain as green space.

Mr Buckley added: “We will be trying to maintain the green space and trees as much as possible.”

The land at Ballards Walk was one of severalplots earmarked for sale by Basildon Council to help pay for the £35million Basildon Sporting Village, which now dominates Gloucester Park.