A TOTAL of 900 homes could be built on green belt land around Wick Country Park.

The new estate, which would be a southern extension of the Wick estate, and include shops and a primary school, would be known as Larkswood Park.

No planning application has been submitted, and no details have been made public, but Pigeon, the developer behind the scheme for at least six years, has met Basildon Council officers for advice and to see if the authority supports it.

The area in question would see development to the east, west and north of Wickford’s country park.

It has been designated a possible major house-building site for between 800 and 3,000 homes in drafts of the council’s local development plan, which has yet to be finalised.

David Harrison, Ukip councillor for Wickford Park, said: “I am concerned this proposal has been going on behind closed doors.

“The person who provided me with these details believes, like me, this should be in the public domain.

“It would have a major effect on Wickford and once again there are no real proposals to improve the road system.

“Wickford people are already concerned at the lack of infrastructure improvements that have been promised in the past.”

The plans show there would be a community centre with a family pub, other facilities, plus cycle and walking tracks linking open space, sports pitches, playing fields and children’s play areas.

They reveal the proposal has been on the cards since at least 2009, as ecological and archaeological surveys of the fields have already been carried out.

Malcolm Buckley, Conservative county councillor for Wickford Crouch, was the member responsible for planning at Basildon Council when a meeting took place with the developer.

He said: “It is inevitable at some point there will be further development of the Wick estate.

“I did see these drawings and made my opinions clear. I felt the scale of development proposed was excessive, particularly when you look at the infrastructure and road network which is already congested at peak times.

“There is no way it could support this number of new homes without another method to get people in and out of the area.”

The masterplan hinted the development may be even bigger.

It said: “Additional areas to the south of the site could also be incorporated into the development if required by the council to meet different growth demands.

“The proposals should contribute towards the enhancement of Wickford as a prosperous, vibrant town.

“The proposals should also relieve pressure on more valuable and sensitive parts of the countryside.”