PLANS to build 30 eco homes off the A127 at a cost of £12million have been branded “extortionate” and a threat to residents’ health.

The council wants to construct the eco homes at a former cattery off Prince Avenue, Southend as part of its strategy to increase its social housing stock.

They will be built under the council’s passive house scheme with homes so heat efficient, the energy costs would be minimal.

However, Richard Longstaff, Green Party councillor for Leigh Ward, said: “Whilst it’s a great idea to deliver council housing, I’m really concerned about health and welfare.

“This is council housing so it’s likely that families with children will be there and I would recommend the council make noise and air monitoring for a year prior to development because we can see quite clearly from the plans just how close it is to the main arterial road which is a source of air and pollution.

“We know the airport’s plan for expansion. Would you want your family living next to the A127 right next to a flight path.”

Mr Longstaff added: “I question £12million to build 30 council homes, that’s £400,000 a home. That’s £4,000 a square metre which seems an extortionate amount of money to build social council housing which is supposed to be affordable.”

David Garston, councillor for Prittlewell Ward, said the site would be too small.

He added: “We welcome the housing. We welcome the site is going to be put to use at last, but 30 on such a small site is far too many. Also it’s on a very busy sliproad.”

Anne Jones, councillor responsible for planning and housing, said the number of homes on the site and air quality considerations would be a matter for the development control committee and highways changes would contribute to the cost of the scheme.

She said: “Passive houses are really innovative and important. They give quality of life for young children and older people.

“These houses are affordable. They are affordable to the people who are going to be living there because they are capped at local housing authority rates.

“They are council houses so in terms of affordability it’s at what cost would you not build these?”