FRESH plans have been submitted to build 97 new homes in Wickford - less than a mile away from two other proposed developments which could bring 300 homes.

Proposals by developer Merrow Wood would see three homes in Castledon Road demolished and a huge swathe of green belt land used to build new houses.

It comes after plans were submitted for 49 homes at the nearby London Road site, as well as 117 homes at the nearby Bell Farm site.

If all plans are approved, more than 300 homes would be created in the area prompting major concerns that nearby roads, doctors’ surgeries and schools would be unable to cope with the influx of residents.

Merrow Wood's planned development areaMerrow Wood's planned development area (Image: Merrow Wood)
Conservative councillor for Wickford Park, George Jeffery said: “The main concern for me would be the green belt and the infrastructure around that road. It’s one of the main roads that people from Wickford use to get to the A12.

“There’s a lot going on there and I just wonder how forthright the council is going to be in demanding the infrastructure provisions from the developers.”

Mr Jeffery added: “A lot of these developments are happening to people and not with people.”

The development will include open green spaceThe development will include open green space (Image: Merrow Wood) The recently submitted plans from Merrow Wood involve the demolition of several existing properties.

Basildon Council currently does not have a local plan, which councillors say could lead to the developments being approved at appeal even if the council rejects them.

The lack of a local plan by Basildon Council means that if a planning application is denied, developers can file an appeal with an independent body and expect to have their applications approved.

Developers will improve existing footpathsDevelopers will improve existing footpaths (Image: Merrow Wood) Councillors such as Independent, David Harrison, believe this approach may see plans approved without provisions for infrastructure improvement.

He said: “The issue is that we haven’t had a local plan since the late 90s.

“It means that there’s no official detail on infrastructure around new developments and essentially allows developers to push their luck and bet on the likelihood of getting approval upon appeal.”

Founder and managing director of Merrow Wood, Daniel Webber, said: “We have complied with all requests from Basildon Council and Essex County Council on infrastructure provision, this is delivered in part with pedestrian footpath improvements locally to the site and also financial contributions to other infrastructure.”