CONCERN has been raised by residents in Stanford-le-Hope's Homesteads ward about three small parcels of open space green land that go up for auction today (Wednesday, 3 August) - with the likelihood that they will be bought by developers intending to cram more homes into an already crowded residential area.

The plots of land were believed by residents to be owned Thurrock Council who have been maintaining the land for years and they were areas of public open space but this appears not to be the case.

There are echoes of a recent situation in Tilbury where a much-loved and locally used plot of green open space, also maintained by the council for decades, was suddenly the subject of a planning application for eight new homes and it has emerged the land was never owned by the council. Against the advice of officers who wanted to approve the development, planning councillors supported local residents and vetoed the application.

Residents in the Homesteads, whose cause is being championed by ward councillor Gary Byrne, will be hoping for a similar decision should planning applications be submitted for the three Stanford plots.

Cllr Byrne said: "This is something that has shocked, but united local residents. We already have strong action groups opposed to any further development. These open spaces are vital to our communities' well-being and not only will building on them damage the community's health, it will further add to the huge and overwhelming weight of pressure on local overstretched public services including health and education provision."

The plots in Stanford are being sold at auction today in Hampstead by Auction House.

The three plots of open land are on Delius Way (measuring 1,220 sq metres) which has a guide price of £30,000, land adjoining Dowland Close (565sq m) valued at £10,000 and a 260 sq m plot off Boyce Road.

An artist's impression of six new homes on land at Delius Way.

Marketing information for all three sites says plans have been drawn up for new homes - though no planning application has yet been made on any of the sites.

It is suggested the Boyce Road site can host a three bedroom detached house with off street parking; the Dowland Close site could become home to two three bedroom detached houses and Delius Way could have six three bedroom dwellings.

What could happen on Boyce Road.