Uckfield could be swamped by people taking advantage of a council error which has paved the way for massive new development.

The East Sussex town could see its population increased by a quarter over the next few years - with no plans for significant infrastructure improvements.

People in Uckfield spoke out yesterday after they discovered an application had been submitted to build 750 homes in the north of the town.

They are expecting another 500 homes to be built in Ridgewood in the south.

Deputy mayor Duncan Bennett said: "It's a free-for-all. Developers are trying their luck wherever they can."

If all the developments go ahead Uckfield's population of 14,000 will be increased by almost a quarter.

Margaret Kiloh, chairwoman of the town council planning committee, said: "The big question is whether the infrastructure is in place to support this much development."

Developers can apply to build anywhere in the town because of the way Wealden District Council compiled its local plan, the masterplan for the future of the area.

The council missed out a key consultation stage in preparing the document.

As a result, if planning applications are turned down developers can contest the legality of the decision and stand a chance of having them overrulled.

Firms have already applied to build housing in parts of Polegate which are not marked for development in the local plan and at Bird-In-Eye Hill on the border of Uckfield and Framfield village.

The latest plans to be submitted are for 750 homes at Downlands Farm in Uckfield, between Snatts Road and the A22 bypass.

The proposals include 9,600 square metres of business space as well as a primary school, community hall, shops, cycle paths, playing fields, open spaces and a country park.

A direct road link to the Black Down roundabout north of Uckfield would also be built in an attempt to keep traffic away from roads in the town centre.

In the past Wealden has opposed development on the site for environmental reasons but the legal loophole could enable the firm behind the plans, Barham Estates, to force the council to reconsider.

A council spokesman said that the authority would be referring the application to Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Councillor Kiloh said: "We could end up with all of these developments and clearly the town is not ready for that much development."

Plans are progressing for new housing at sites off Lewes Road, Eastbourne Road and Mallards Drive in the south of Uckfield.