A HUGE new business park creating 2,000 new jobs could be built next to the A127 by a company boasting DHL, Peugeot and Amazon as its clients.

St Modwen Logistics, which runs business parks across the country, has submitted plans to Basildon Council to build seven large warehouses and create 2,022 new jobs.

If approved, the new warehouses would be built on green belt land between the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate, in Pitsea, and North Benfleet close to the A127.

The firm believes that the major proposals could create much-needed new jobs, and generate £5.5million per year in business rate revenue.

As well as the warehouses, St Modwen has promised to green spaces that will benefit the surrounding community and off-set the loss of green belt land.

Basildon councillor for Pitsea South West, Luke Mackenzie, admitted the additional jobs will be a benefit but raised concerns around the impact on the nearby A127 if more lorries are travelling into Basildon.

He said: “We have a lot of industrialisation, and this could further add to that. Pitsea is an area of particular concern and has already had speed limits introduced along the A127 due to air pollution.

“While the job creation is a welcome contribution, you must think about the impact of local development.

“The main concerns are overcapacity of the local infrastructure, the A127 is bad for traffic and not improving. We need development and jobs and houses in Pitsea but we need something for the community right now.

“We need the A127 to be put to modern capacity first, so we can have free-flowing traffic before south Essex is gridlocked.

“There is something good in this plan, but I do not believe the infrastructure exists to accommodate it.”

Plans were submitted to Basildon Council in January and published on the council website on Tuesday.

Basildon Pitsea northwest councillor, Patricia Reid, said: “I think anything like this is the only reason greenbelt should be developed.

“I think if it will bring 2,022 new jobs, that must be a positive on an enormous scale, however, if it is on such a large scale, it is a bit worrying mostly due to traffic issues.”