CAMPAIGNERS fear another piece of green space could be lost after a developer unveiled plans for 68 homes in Wickford.

Gleeson Homes and Gladedale Estates have put forward proposals to Basildon Council to build the three, four and five bed houses as well as two-bed flats, on land south of Downham Road.

The area is currently green fields, but it was designated as somewhere for future housing in the late 1990s.

The council wanted it to revert to green belt in the local plan, which sets out where houses will be built over the next ten years, but it collapsed in 2006 after the council and Government could not agree a date for the public inquiry.

Alan Ball, 53, of Cedar Avenue, Wickford, the chairman of the Wickford Action Group, blamed the council for not stopping the plans coming forward.

He said: “Unfortunately the council didn’t designate this land as green belt. It is the council’s fault for not having a local plan in place. It is a shame because it is nice fields at the moment, but there is nothing that can be done.

“I feel it is bad organisation and it is another bit of land that Wickford is losing. It will add pressure to the station area.”

The new properties will have eco-friendly features such as being fitted with a water butt to collect rainwater.

Two public exhibitions were held at Wickford Training Centre, in Alderney Gardens, in March and residents were invited to have their say on the proposals.

Gleeson Homes is also behind controversial plans to build 152 homes on the 10 acre Barn Hall open space, off Station Avenue.

Last year, the council and campaigners lost a High Court battle to overturn outline planning permission for up to 200 homes on the site.

Gleeson has since scaled back its plans to a development of 146 three and four-bedroom houses and six two-bedroom flats.

Clive Simpson, the council’s manager of planning services, said: “The site south of Downham Road is not in the green belt and was designated as an area of special reserve for long term housing need in the 1998 Basildon District Local Plan.

“The council will be carrying out public consultation on the application and it will in due course be considered by the council's development control and traffic management committee.

“A number of factors will need to be taken into account in determining the application including the status of the land, the impact of the proposed development and the housing needs of the borough."