CAMPAIGNERS have demanded assurances over new roads, schools and health facilities after potential locations for more than 27,000 new homes were revealed.

The Billericay Action Group, a campaign group made up of residents, have said they “fully support the need for a new local plan” but believe the housing target mandated by Government is “far in excess of true local need”.

The proposals would see a potential 16,928 housing allocations on green belt to meet a 27,111 target from 2024 to 2043 in the borough.

Billericay has an estimated capacity of 4,170 new homes across seven new sites put forward by landowners – surrounding Billericay Town FC, Burstead Golf Club, Stock Brook Manor and numerous small sports grounds near Barleylands.

A spokesman said: “From what we have seen so far there are no guarantees that schools, health facilities and roads will be increased or improved to cope with what would be a 32 per cent increase in the current population over just 20 years.

“What we really need are starter homes for those looking to buy, and more council housing for social rent to help those on the council’s waiting list.

“This is the real housing crisis.

“We have seen nothing to suggest that the new local plan will address this and we are likely to see expensive houses in the countryside that are out of the reach of local people.

“We need the right number of houses, of the right type and in the right places.

“This local plan won’t deliver that for local people.”

Tory Billericay west councillor Phil Turner agreed with the concerns, adding there is “a need for residents to campaign”.

He said: “It is questionable if we need this housing to satisfy the population and the educated answer is that we don’t, we know we don’t and we have struggled in administration with how many we need.

“We have needed the local plan and there will be some development in the green belt, you can get carried away thinking this is the final plan, and this is what will end up being there.

“However it looks outrageous in consultation they are putting forward all the green belt, we had to expect the worst, and we got it.”