DEVELOPERS have resubmitted plans for a high-rise development, to the dismay of residents already living in one of the most crowded parts of Brentwood.

Although plans for a six-storey office block were passed by Brentwood Borough Council in March 2011, builders Taylor Wimpey chose not to act and the site in St James's Road, off Warley Hill, has remained unused.

Instead Taylor Wimpey is asking for permission for a mixed-use five-storey development comprising 24 flats, office space and retail space.

The space next to Brunel House had already seen one failed proposal for 71 flats, which was turned down by the council in September 2010.

The plans have come under heavy criticism from neighbours who say the area is already suffering serious overcrowding while parking provision is inadequate.

If the new application gets the go-ahead the total number of homes around the former gasworks site in Rollason Way will exceed 500, while the average number of parking spaces per household is less than one.

Paul Downie, who lives in Rollason Way, said: "People don't want it at all. It's going to be more flats and traffic blockage, and more people being overshadowed from other developments.

"It's going to be more overflowing of cars onto the street. I know there are going to be 61 car spaces made available but with a development that big we are still going to have the same problems as were threatened last time. There are going to be cars having to park on the street and people struggling even more to find somewhere to park.

"I have always insisted that the main problem is emergency access – fire engines will just not be able to get down quickly with all those cars."

Karen Chilvers, a former councillor who is campaigning for sensible planning at the site, said she was not surprised that plans for office space were being revised.

She said: "This new development is huge, another Tower of Greed proposal.

"We still have too many people living there with too many cars."

A spokesman for the developer said: "Taylor Wimpey instructed the services of an expert commercial agent, CBRE, to extensively market the site for a period of more than three years.

"It is clear from this that there is no effective demand for the six-storey office block, which originally received planning in 2006 and which Taylor Wimpey is required under the Section 73 permission granted in March 2011 to build by 2014.

"The proposed scheme is, we feel, in keeping with the surrounding area, and actually is marginally lower in height than the approved office scheme. It is Taylor Wimpey's intention, should planning be granted, that it will occupy the proposed office space.

"The level of parking provision, 61 spaces, is considered to be wholly appropriate for the size of the development, especially as the scheme complies with government guidance on sustainable locations by being situated some 100 metres from Brentwood railway station and local bus services."

The plans will be discussed by the planning committee at a date to be set.