A NEW country park stretching across parts of western Rayleigh could be created as part of a deal to allow 650 new homes to be built in the area.

Rochford District Council has to find land for new homes under the East of England Plan and councillors have been wrestling with the issue over the past year.

The latest proposals to find a total of 2,500 new homes by 2021 will be discussed at a meeting on Tuesday, and would mean the largest number of new houses being built north of London Road, Rayleigh, near Rawreth Lane.

But Keith Hudson, councillor responsible for planning, said: “We would ensure there was a condition the rest of the land south of the London Road and up to the old A130 becomes parkland so it can never be built on.

“It would be part of the deal.

“This would effectively be the end of the building in west Rayleigh and we would ensure it would remain open space for the future.”

Mr Hudson said the number of new homes had largely been worked out to allow for natural growth across the district.

“This is why a certain amount of housing has been allocated to even a small settlement like Canewdon so young people will be able to stay in their own areas,” he said.

“I need to emphasise nothing about this is cast in stone and these allocations do not mean the homes will definitely be built.”

Chris Black, Lib Dem councillor for Downhall and Rawreth, said he remained concerned about the proposed number of homes in the area.

He added: “This could end up as just a complete housing development as far as the old A130, and I would want to see more safeguards built in to ensure the land up the old road is maintained as a green open space.

“I have to say the number of homes now being proposed for Rayleigh is much better than the 1,800 which was being put forward last year.”