PLANS for up to 250 homes near Little Clacton could open the floodgates for hundreds more to be built, it is feared.

A proposal for 250 dwellings and eight commercial units on Oakwood Park, with access between Thorpe Road and Fowler Road, submitted by local developer Kevin Britton, will be decided by Tendring Council’s planning committee atameeting on Tuesday.

But Little Clacton Parish Council chairman Peter Watson is worried if permission was granted, then a proposal for 1,780 homes and 20 hectares of employment land on a neighbouring site, which has been included in Tendring Council’s draft local plan, would be one step closer to going ahead.

He said: “The application has been outstanding for a couple of years, but the parish council has no problem with the proposal for 250 homes and eight commercial units.

“As long as the correct infrastructure was built, then there would not be an issue, but the draft local plan has a proposal for nearly 1,800 homes close by.

“That would mean houses which go right down to the railway bridge and would put a huge strain on the school and shops.”

The initial development has been recommended for approval by council officers and a spokesman for Mr Britton said: “It will make a significant contribution to meeting current housing needs in the Clacton area.

“We expect to make some contributions to local infrastructure, for example affordable housing and education."