AMBITIOUS plans have been revealed for more than 130 homes on former NHS land, creating a huge new “village” behind Waitrose in Southend. 

Developer Guinness Homes has outlined proposals for 131 shared ownership homes on land off Fossetts Way.

Guinness Homes says the mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes in the “Meadow Grange” development will be available to reserve in the coming weeks.

The 14-acre site, where a NHS diagnostic and treatment centre had previously been planned, was sold in 2018 to Homes England for £7 million.

The site neighbours plans for hundreds of new homes at Fossetts Farm as part of Southend United’s new stadium.  Ilke Homes is also building 221 modular homes opposite the old NHS land in Fossetts Way. 

Campaigners say the plans for the old NHS land are a “wasted” chance to solve Southend’s housing issues.

Colin Nickless, co-founder of campaign group Fossetts for the People, said: “It’s disappointing for Southend because what we need is large-scale and genuinely affordable housing for people.

“We feel that land had potential for more homes, and built solely to be council housing, it’s essentially been a massive waste of an opportunity to really help solve the housing issues in the city. 

“Shared ownership comes with a load of its own issues - you own a lease which is a depreciating asset and you have no control over service charges or the rent potentially rising massively.”

Save Southend NHS campaigners say the sale of the land was a betrayal of the public, adding: “That land belonged to the public. To the people of Southend.

At the very least, Homes England should have ensured that houses built on that development should first be offered to NHS workers to buy and for them to be offered support to achieve this via a government backed discounted scheme.”

Guinness Homes says: “Meadow Grange’s superb mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced homes are all available to buy with shared ownership, an alternative Government-backed route onto the property ladder in locations you love,” the firm added.

“Buying a percentage typically means a smaller deposit and a smaller mortgage based on the share price you purchase. In addition to mortgage repayments, you will also pay rent on the share you don’t own and a service charge.”