A HOUSING estate may destroy a an ecological habitat in Great Wakering, it has been claimed.

Developer Taylor Wimpey East London has submitted a planning application to build 116 new homes on the brownfield site of the old Star Lane Brickworks.

The new proposal will be heard on Thursday, September 25, but Shoebury resident Kevin Rushman hopes the plan will be rejected.

He said: “The area, for at least the last 15 years, has been home to several species of bird, foxes, hares, dragonflies, bats, voles and butterflies.

“The wildlife is in the bushes surrounding the site.

“If this goes ahead then a peaceful animal-friendly area will become noisy and polluted and all of these animals will more or less disappear.”

The old brickworks closed in 1991, but the four towers remained until they were demolished in 2007.

The Echo approached the developers, but it declined to comment. However they did respond to Mr Rushman’s request to outline its ecological assessment procedures for new developments.

The response said: “The proposed scheme was subject to a very detailed ecological assessment by a specialist ecologist.

“Extensive consultation has taken place with a variety of environmental stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, the Essex Wildlife Trust, Natural England and others.

“A detailed appraisal was made of risk to any existing or neighbouring habitats and the conclusions of this report found there were no ecological constraints and that the proposals would fully accord with planning policy at all nature conservation levels.”

The site has been allocated for development by Rochford District Council and councillor responsible for planning Ian Ward said the development is only on the brownfield site.

He said: “All applications have to go through thorough ecological assessments and any points are flagged up for discussion at meetings.”