Concerns have been raised over building work disruption if nearly all of Burnham’s 450 homes are built at once.

To meet the district’s housing needs, Maldon District Council has planned for a minimum of 4,410 houses to be built between 2014 and 2029.

The Local Development Plan includes 1,375 houses for south Maldon, 1,235 for north Heybridge, 450 for Burnham and 75 for North Fambridge.

Some 335 houses have been specified for “other villages”.

But the current timescale for building will see nearly all of Burnham’s quota built within the first of three five-year time slots.

At a town council meeting last Tuesday, Burnham mayor Ron Pratt said: “I’m concerned they’re trying to get all 450 houses built in the first five years when it is supposed to be a 15-year plan.

“Although I understand the need for houses in the Maldon district, apparently we need less infrastructure than Maldon and Heybridge so the logic is to build the houses in Burnham first."