RESIDENTS say building 400 more homes in Laindon would stretch local services to breaking point.

The fears were voiced as Bellway Homes put its latest plans on show for the first time.

The Dunton Fields development would site homes on 40 acres of land near Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre.

Pat Keeper, 71, who lives in Laindon High Road was one of those who went to James Hornsby High School on Saturday to look at the plans.

She said: “There’s only one secondary school between Upminster and Basildon town centre.

There are hardly any dentists in the area and the shopping situation is disgusting in Laindon.

“There used to be loads of shops in the High Road. People used to come from miles.

“Homes keep being plonked in Laindon, but there needs to be services to go with them.”

A spokesman for Bellway, said: “It’s a very open consultation and it’s not something every developer would do. “We want to involve the community and listen to what they have to say.

“The plans are not very detailed yet and we are mainly showing what constraints there would be.”

The development would border the 309-Radford Park development, which Bellway completed on the old Laindon School site in 2009.

The spokesman stressed the potential benefits of the scheme. He said Bellway planned a new road linking the estate to the A127 at the Dunton interchange.

It would also offer places in the construction team for building trade apprentices – with the possibility of long-term jobs afterwards.

Bellway would shortly start talks with Basildon Council, Essex County Council and NHS South West Essex about other facilities, he added.

He said 2,500 residents living near the site had been invited by letter to Saturday’s exhibition.

They will get further chances to express their views on the plans when more detailed proposals are revealed.