A developer is planning to build 250 homes despite fears over flooding.

Garrison Developments has submitted a preliminary application for homes and a health centre on land off Barge Pier Road in Shoebury, which is prone to flooding.

A previous application for 172 homes stalled after the Environment Agency said the homes could only go ahead if work on nearby seawalls offered a one in 200-year flooding event protection, but those now in the pipeline will offer less than half that.

Peter Lovett, vice chairman of Shoebury Residents’ Association, said: “It’s pretty obvious there will be a lot of three-storey apartments in the plans submitted privately for scoping by planning officers.

“The garages are likely to be on the ground floor but if there is a flood, how are people expected to get out of the buildings?”

Garrison Developments also had permission for 11 commercial blocks on nearby land, part of which will be used as a new Lidl store, but diggers levelling the land for the store have lain idle for weeks.

Mr Lovett added: “This land has been under water before and is very wet now so I think that’s why they’ve stopped working on it. It’s ridiculous to allow building on a grade three flood plane.”

Jon Fuller, from South East Essex Friends of the Earth said, “Building 172 homes would be irresponsible, but the proposal to increase that number to 250 is downright callous. New homes must be built at least 20 feet above the current highest high tide mark.”

A spokesman for Garrison Developments said: “We have been in discussion with stake holders and have opted for a predominantly residential led scheme of up to 250 homes.

“This will remove the new dwellings completely from the flood zone whilst not affecting any existing homes. That task is very involved and our team of specialist architects and flood engineers are working towards a viable solution.”