PLANS for two blocks of modern flats just two miles apart have sparked fears of overdevelopment and parking chaos.

Matthew Golding has asked for outline permission to demolish his house at 514 London Road, Benfleet, and replace it with a block of 24 apartments. The building will be made up of 18 two-bedroomed flats and six one-bedroomed flats.

It comes as Chelmsford-based Trinity View Homes bids for approval to build a state-of-the-art block in Park Chase, Hadleigh. The colourful building, with floor to ceiling windows, will be a mix of three and four storeys.

Planning documents prepared by Witham-based Design Architecture 84 Ltd show that Mr Golding was approached by Castle Point Council in 2007 about the possibility of building on his land. He now feels the time is right to take the authority up on its offer.

The design and access statement reads: “I believe my clients proposed apartments will add a nice feature to London Road, breaking up the traditional look with its modern features.”

The application includes 26 car parking spaces.

The proposals for the Park Chase site relate to a vacant site. The new building will make way for 25 apartments - but has been with with opposition.

In a formal objection submitted via Castle Point Council’s planning portal, one London Road residents, whose home borders the proposed development land, said: “It will change the view we get.

“There will be increased traffic and people will try and take our parking spot or park down our road, which would block access to our property.”

The block will include 34 parking spaces.

In planning documents, a spokesman for DAP Architecture, acting on behalf of Trinity View Homes, said: “The proposal consists of an apartment building housing 25 apartments, sensitively designed in relation to the surrounding context.

“With good design, we consider the site provides a great opportunity for a high quality development that will be ideal for growing families and grown families alike, seeking to live in Hadleigh.

“This has been achieve by responding sensitively to the scale, form and massing of the surrounding context.”

Concerns have also been raised about the Benfleet development - with fears the new building will “dominate the road and have an overwhelming effect on privacy.”

A resident in Mount Road, Thundersley, said: “It is ridiculous to permit such a development with just one parking space to each two bedroom flat and only two visitors spaces.

“The overflow parking from friends, visitors and deliveries etc to the

flats will be forced to park on Mount road itself which is a private road. There is no other option to park elsewhere.”

A decision on both developments is expected to be made by Castle Point Council’s planning committee in May.