Two more developers have submitted plans to build hundreds of homes in a town residents fear will be overrun with new housing.

Applications have been made to build 197 homes on fields in the south of Uckfield and for another 100 at the site of a disused chicken factory in the north of the town.

Residents in Uckfield have been bewildered in the past year as a series of developers have tried to exploit a legal loophole in the council document which designates where building can take place.

Proposals to build 280 homes at two sites in the Ridgewood area south of the town centre have already been given the go ahead and another development of 146 homes is set to follow.

In February Wealden District Council refused an application to build 750 homes at Downlands Farm on the northern edge of Uckfield. It has also turned down a plan for more than 300 homes on a green field site on land north of Framfield Road. The firms behind the two schemes are expected to appeal against the decisions.

Councillor Paul Sparks, who represents Uckfield on East Sussex County Council, said: "It has turned into a complete free-for-all. Uckfield was expecting to have a maximum of 400 new homes built in the next few years, now it could end up with 1,500."

The situation is the result of Wealden Council's decision to create its Local Plan, the document detailing sites for future development, without a legally required consultation stage. The council believed the move would save time and money.

As a result the Local Plan is not legally-binding, meaning that developers can apply to build anywhere in the district and, if refused, can mount a court challenge against the council's decision.

No developers have yet fully tested the system but several have made applications to build on sites not earmarked by the Local Plan.

Coun Sparks said: "It is a complete and utter shambles."

Both of the latest applications are for areas outside the Local Plan.

Persimmon Homes have applied for permission to build 197 homes, with access roads, recreational spaces and landscaping on fields at Bird-In-Eye Hill, south of Framfield Road.

Montagu Evans has made an application to build around 100 homes, a residential care home, low density business units, a village green and open spaces at the former Grampian chicken factory in Five Ash Down, Maresfield. Wealden has the site earmarked for industrial or business use.

Residents believe the town's infrastructure is not adequate to support so much development.

A request has also been submitted to the council for scoping opinion about a development of 250 homes in Hailsham, another of the towns jeopardised by Local Plan.

Hillreed Developments has expressed its desire to build the homes along with a health centre and library on land east of Battle Road.

Can these areas cope with more housing? Are they already struggling with doctors, dentists and school places? Leave your comments below.