VILLAGERS have called an emergency meeting as a site proposed to be used for 1,750 new housing units has been considered suitable.

Maldon District Council carried out a call for sites exercise as part of a review of its Local Development Plan and an associated housing and economic land availability assessment.

Landowners could submit their land for a formal assessment as to the site's sustainability for housing.

It is important to note the call for sites exercise does not allocate land in the local development plan review nor does it grant planning permission.

The maps connected to the sites submitted in the exercise reveals a site in Althorne proposed for 1,750 new housing units.

A summary on the map produced by Maldon District Council states on balance it is considered development of the site would be suitable.

It adds the site's open views would have to be protected and mitigation would have to be provided against surface water flood risk.

It also said: "There are a number of heritage assets opposite the site and an impact assessment would have to be carried out to ensure that any potential harm was taken into account.

"The developer has indicated that the site could come forward in up to five years but given the size of the site, this is unlikely to happen in one phase and development could stretch beyond the plan period."

The plot is on land south of Fambridge Road and Burnham Road and east and west of Station Road.

Additional infrastructure would include improved rail station access and public transport interchange, the map suggests.

Shocked villagers have organised an emergency meeting with Althorne Parish Council in response.

Resident and father-of-two Stuart Williams said: "It doesn't make sense that a village of only 620 properties would be suitable for an extra 1,750 properties, which is an increase of 300 per cent.

"It is another example of big developers muscling in and ruining the countryside and beauty of small rural villages."

Organisers are expecting a large attendance at the emergency meeting which takes place in the parish hall on Wednesday at 7pm.

No planning application has been submitted for homes on the site yet.