Developers unveil scheme for 1,800 homes, 2 schools and shop precinct
3:00pm Saturday 3rd December 2011 in News
A DETAILED blueprint of a massive housing development in the north of Colchester has been unveiled.
Developers Mersea Homes and Countryside Properties intend to build 1,800 homes, a secondary and primary school, a community centre and a shopping precinct on 100 hectares of land in Nayland Road.
The developers insist much of the countryside will survive, with 33.5 hectares, including Chesterwell Wood, remaining untouched.
Colchester Council earmarked the land for 2,200 homes three years ago, prompting a storm of protest and the formation of campaign group Love Myland.
Stuart Cock, Mersea Homes’ managing director, believes 1,800 properties, mainly family homes, is the way forward.
He said: “We feel times have changed and we’re the type of developer which doesn’t want to deliver high density, unattractive schemes.
“We want a more traditional, lower density scheme with green space and proper infrastructure.”
If granted permission, the scheme will include an extension of Mile End Recreation Ground, where a community centre would be built, a shopping precinct near the A12 and two schools.
Mr Cock said: “We think we can deliver a scheme that’s low density, with lots of green space and the right infrastructure that we’re going to be proud of and people want to buy.”
Protest group Love Myland last year collected a petition of 1,234 signatures from residents horrified at the scale of the proposed development.
It feared a loss of wildlife and an increase in traffic in an already congested area of Colchester.
Mr Cock insisted the development would go ahead in some form and it was up to residents to get involved and help produce something they liked.
He said: “Colchester Council has chosen this location for houses. We’ve got a housing crisis here and we need to plan for the medium to long term.
“The main thing to say to them is that this is in the council’s policy, it’s going to happen, so please work with us to make sure it’s the best result for everyone.
“There’s always been a fear of the unknown, so we’re pleased to be able to get to this stage and start to show just how good a scheme we can deliver.”
Colchester Council is set to publish information about how the area should be developed in January.
The developers will apply for outline planning permission in March or April and hope to get the go-ahead in 2013.
Mr Cock said the intention was to have the first homes occupied by 2016, although the entire development would not be completed for a further 15 years.