A MAJOR development including a shopping centre and hundreds of homes is facing delays after planned roads were deemed ‘dangerous”.

Swan Housing Association is also adding 20 more homes to 224 home development, which will be built alongside a new Lidl and a medical centre.

Plans have been on the table for more than 20 years, but various delays and adaptations have meant work is still in the construction stage.

Jeff Henry, Tory councillor for Laindon Park met with planners and the housing association last week to discuss changes to the plan.

He said: “There’s been changes with highway laws and next month plans will be considered by the county council for road changes.

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“There was concern about cars coming out into the busy road and also concerns about the original park plans too. There were road issues which would have been dangerous.

“Due to the way it was planned congestion would mean cars wouldn’t get anywhere. There is going to be 20 more homes added too.”

Mr Henry, who is also a county councillor, says he understands the anger from residents but the project “cannot be rushed”.

Edward Smith, 61, of Laindon said: “We just need and want something done now it’s been going on far too long.

“The community needs the shops, medical centre and homes. I hope we can offer young people and those on low incomes new homes.”

A Swan Housing Association spokesman added: “Our dedicated team is working hard to progress the first application, which is to approve the changes to the highways design required by Essex County Council and Basildon Council have, this week, confirmed their Planning Committee should make a decision on this at the March planning committee.

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“This approval will enable the highways works to progress and the new Lidl store to progress.

“After the highways works are approved, we will be consulting with the community on our second application which will propose to use steel instead of timber framed modular design to construct the apartments.

“We would like to thank the Laindon community for their continued patience and to reassure them that Swan remains committed to delivering a new high street for the heart of Laindon as soon as we can.”