PLANS to build 72 new homes in Shoebury would “overwhelm” roads which are already struggling with traffic, a councillor has warned.

Taylor Wimpey, one of the UK’s largest home construction companies, is working on proposals for a development on the Cantel Medical two-storey warehouse site in Campfield road.

Ward councillor James Moyies believes infrastructure investment is required before any more homes are built.

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The plans would see the new homes built on the 2.25 hectares site – the equivalent of four football pitches – with a mixture of detached, semi-detached, terraced homes and flats in buildings between two and three storeys tall.

Taylor Wimpey claims 30 per cent of the housing would be “affordable”.

Mr Moyies said: “Every time there is more development we ask for improvements.

"The junction with Campfield Road and Ness Road is extremely busy at times.

“To add more houses in that area would overwhelm the roads and be a step too far without significant investment in that junction.”

Vehicular access is proposed to remain from Campfield Road, with a survey commissioned by Taylor Wimpey calculating the development would create an extra 219 vehicle movements on the road every day.

The same survey found av average 4,500 vehicles pass through Campfield Road every day, and as such, predict the 72-home development would see a five per cent daily traffic increase.

“I don’t believe these models ever,” Mr Moyies said. “For anyone that lives in the real world, they know they don’t make any sense whatsoever and the impact will likely be much greater.”

“And it’s not just roads, but all infrastructure in the area is struggling,” he continued.

“We are fighting for improvements to the Shoeburyness Health Centre. Residents are desperate for more GPs, more health services in the community, and more school places.”

The developer has submitted an environmental impact assessment report to Southend Council in a precursor move to applying for full planning permission.

The new homes, if approved, would be built near areas of historical importance.

The development would lie immediately to the west of the Grade II listed Horseshoe barracks, with the site of a prehistoric settlement, known as the Danish Camp, approximately 230 metres to the southeast.