SOUTHEND Council is drawing up plans to demolish a care home to make way for a housing estate.

Residents in Saxon Lodge, in Campfield Road, Shoebury, would be moved to a new, £1million home.

The eight residents would switch to Shelford House, in West Street, Southend, which has been designed by Genesis Housing Association to cater for 16 adults with learning disabilities and will include four respite care beds.

It is estimated the move to put the service under one, purposebuilt roof will save the council £250,000 in 2014/15.

Saxon Lodge would then be demolished and developed in a a limited liability partnership with BV Strategies Ltd – if the council’s cabinet agrees the move.

The agreement would see BV Strategies and the council take 50/50 ownership of the site and split the profits from the sale of new homes.

The council already has a similar agreement with the developer for the nearby Hinguar School site.

The authority says it will save considerable money by bringing Saxon Lodge into the same scheme, with workers on both sites sharing facilities and contractors, and building materials being bought together to get a better deal.

Pupils at Hinguar moved into a new school in Gunners Park in September 2012. The company proposes building homes and businesses at the 20-acre site – keeping a four-and-a-half acre landscaped public space. The facade of the Victorian building will be preserved.

It is not yet clear how Saxon Lodge site would be developed, but Independent Shoebury councillor Ann Chalk fears more homes will put further strain on the town’s infrastructure.

She said: “The council will clear the site and then the devoloper does the work and they and the council split the proceeds.

“The residents in Saxon Lodge will move to Shelford, which will allow them to be more independent, so it is a good thing if they are going to improve facilities.

“However, I worry about an increase in traffic.

“I am not too happy about it because the Hinguar site is being developed as well, so more traffic will be a problem.”