THE location of 70,000 proposed homes in south Essex have been sketched out on a map by housing action groups.

South East Essex Action Group Alliance was formed more than a year ago and has 14 development action groups operating together to challenge housing proposals due to a lack of infrastructure and green belt land being built on.

The alliance said the country needs new homes, but drip feeding new builds in a haphazard manner, in an already densely populated area, with total disregard for the environment and living standards of existing residents is not the way forward.

The map the group has produced shows what would happen if the local council’s plans materialise for more than 70,000 new homes between Thurrock and Southend over the next 16 years.

Founder of the group, Mike Andrews, who also runs Billericay Action Group, says the aim of the group, and consequently the map, is to show and understand where the new houses will have consequences for other towns.

The 14 action groups that helped devise the map include those from Billericay, Hullbridge, South Benfleet, West Basildon, Rayleigh, Wickford and Rochford, among others.

Mr Andrews, said: “If all of our local council’s plans materialise, more than 70,000 new homes will be built – that’s equivalent to five towns the size of Billericay, or Rayleigh, or almost two new Basildons.

“Many of these new houses will be built on our green belt, as the map shows.”

The group feel the planned new homes will be built on an already overstretched infrastructure, with little hope of improvements for existing residents, let alone the new inhabitants.

Mr Andrews added: “Just imagine 100,000 extra cars trying to use the A12, A13 and A127, or the impact of 150,000 new residents on the chances of a seat on the train to London, or the waiting time for a hospital appointment.

“South East Essex cannot take these numbers of new homes and it’s time our local and national politicians started to address the needs of their existing residents, before bringing even more housing to this part of our county.”

John Mason, leader of the Rochford District Residents’ group supports, and is participating in, the alliance.

The district councillor said: “While as Independent district councillors in Rochford district we tend to focus on the matters of direct interest to our residents, the full extent of proposed new house building in South East Essex is laid bare by research by the South East Essex Action Group Alliance.”