Flats proposed for a quiet street, straddling the border between Leigh and Hadleigh, have been backed by Castle Point Council planning officials.

They are recommending approval for the controversial scheme, which involves the replacement of five two-storey blocks of flats in Olive Avenue, Leigh, with taller buildings.

Landowner Circle 33 Housing Trust wants to replace the 22 Thirties-built single-bedroomed flats and bedsits with affordable housing.

The new development would provide 30 flats and three houses plus parking for 35 cars and offer homes to 90 people, instead of the current 40.

The site sits right on the border between Southend and Castle Point, so the plans must be agreed by both borough councils before they can go ahead.

Neighbours have complained about loss of privacy and light caused by the taller buildings and lack of parking paces and recreational areas in the proposal.

However, Castle Point officials are backing the plan because it would help the borough hit its targets for affordable housing.

Objectors have also claimed ancient trees and badger setts would be threatened by the work.

Officials concede the trees helped to screen the building and have requested as many as possible should be retained.

The outcome of an ecological survey, prompted by concerns raised by the Essex Badger Group will be presented to councillors when they vote on the plan.

Castle Point's planning committee meeting is due to consider the proposal at its meeting next Tuesday.

Southend Council's development control committee meets the following evening, but the council was unable to confirm today if the application would be considered then, or what its planners' recommendation would be.

'Reject report for our sakes'

Residents reacted angrily to news planning officers are happy for the flats in Olive Avenue, Leigh, to go ahead.

Alison Roberts, 34, moved into her house in the avenue just two months ago. She said: "Some of the points officers have raised are good reasons for objection, yet they bring in other factors and then say the plan is all right.

"They say there is not enough parking but then say when you apply it to town centre parking standards, it is only six spaces short. But this isn't a town centre. I can't say I am surprised, because only 12 of the homes are in Castle Point and that part has most of the green open space."

Her concerns were echoed by Maddy Kemp, 40, of Hamilton Close, whose home backs on to the site. She said: "We only moved in in May and one of the reasons was because of the trees, which give the area a woodland feel. They are going to fell large trees at the end of my garden to make a car park. It's totally out of keeping and much larger than what is there now.

It will increase traffic a lot because most people have two cars these days."