The £200million controversial rebuild of the rundown Craylands estate could start by the end of the year, developers hope, after plans have finally been submitted to Basildon Council.

The first phase includes eco-friendly homes, 18m-long bendy buses ferrying residents through the estate, a wildlife haven and tree-lined open square in the middle of Craylands.

It will take two to three years to complete and will include building an estate of 202 homes on the former Fryerns School next to the estate.

It will also see a main bus route carved through the middle of Craylands, from the school site to a junction with Eastmayne, and 189 new houses and flats built either side of the road following large-scale demolition.

This will include razing the existing community centre and shopping area.

Just 35 existing homes will survive.

A temporary shop and community hall will be put in place during phase one, before a new community area with shops and a health centre are built between the school site and Craylands during phase two.

The detailed plans show a landscaped environmental area with water features to help drainage and provide wildlife habitats on the Craylands edge of the school site.

Homes will be built to eco-friendly standards, with better installation while flats will share rubbish and recycling bin stores.

Of the houses and flats, 240 will be for private sale, 139 for housing association tenants and 12 for shared ownership.

Richard Winter, chairman of the Craylands Residents' Association, said: "I have yet to see the plans, so can't comment, but we still have major concerns."