ANGRY campaigners are fighting against Brentwood Council’s plans to build a staggering 2,500 homes on greenbelt land in between Laindon and Dunton.

The proposed new development, called Dunton Hills Garden Village, will be on land to the south of the A127 and east of Tilbury Road, linking Basildon and Brentwood boroughs.

Consultation for the plan took place back in 2015 on a “concept to deliver a potential cross boundary opportunity” between the two boroughs.

Brentwood Council have promised a new “garden village community delivering supporting facilities and services,” but they are lacking evidence that the land is suitable.

A report by Basildon Infrastructure, Growth and Development Committee said: “As it stands there is no robust and credible evidence ... whether development in this location is achievable ... or suitable.”

It said: “The proposals are currently not supported by Brentwood’s own evidence.”

The initial number of new homes is 2,500 but could reach up to 4,000 with additional traveller sites, retail and leisure uses, commercial buildings and improved infrastructure routes.

The development is expected to take between five and 15 years to complete. Despite the promise of improved infrastructure and more housing, residents local to Dunton have expressed concerns about the plans.

Jeff Goodwin, 68, of Laindon West, set up website ‘DRAGGED’ (Dunton Residents Against Greenbelt Greedy Exploitation Development) to give Basildon residents information on what is happening with the plans.

Mr Goodwin worries the development won’t be built properly and said: “Brentwood Council will get all the council tax from this development yet they intend to rely on Basildon infrastructure like hospitals and schools.”

He said: “I firmly believe it is possible to stop it if enough people get on board.”

Phil Gibbs, 56, of Langdon Hills, is a member of Dunton Garden Suburb action group, and said: “The main purpose of greenbelt is to stop urban congestion, if it’s lost we’ll become London.”

Basildon councillor Linda Allport-Hodge, Chairman of the Infrastructure, Growth and Development Committee has said: “There is a great deal of opposition from residents across Basildon, many of whom I have spoken with. There is a feeling the development will only benefit Brentwood residents.

“It’s important that Basildon retains it’s uniqueness and doesn’t become like London.”

Last month Basildon Council changed their local plan to decrease the number of new houses on greenbelt land from 2,300 to 300. 18,000 homes must be delivered by 2034.

The Echo asked Brentwood Council for comment, but they could not respond by the time we went to print.