Plans for 153 homes off Berechurch Hall Road, Colchester, to be approved

Persimmon Homes’ plans for the new estate, off Berechurch Hall Road, are set to be rubber-stamped by Colchester Council’s planning committee at a meeting on Thursday.

The properties will be a mix of one and two-bed apartments and two, three and four-bed houses, with 46 classed as affordable.

The site, which is allocated for homes in Colchester Council’s Local Plan, is one of three parcels of land in the area set for development, with 32 properties already approved on one section.

Two access roads into the new 153-home estate would be created from Berechurch Hall Road, which has become known as an accident hotspot.

The latest data from the Safer Essex Roads Partnership shows there were ten smashes in the street in 2019, up from just two the previous year.

Four of those crashes were deemed serious with cyclists, pedestrians and children all being hurt on the road.

A total of 24 objections were submitted online in opposition to the proposals.

One described the piece of land as “sacred”.

“This is diabolical. This infrastructure will destroy everything that already lives there,” they said.

“Not only is there a wealth of wildlife, including badgers, foxes, pheasants, bats and owls.

“This is a sacred piece of land. It will no longer resemble the picture perfect countryside it was.”

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Another resident said the development would caused “unacceptable traffic congestion to an already congested road”.

They added: “I sincerely believe no consideration or thought for residents is taken into account when allowing permission for developments such as this.

“No thought of stress levels or mental health issues which will result in people being forced to live cheek by jowl in an overcrowded and congested environment.”

Colchester Cycling Campaign has also objected to the proposals.

Despite the concerns, Colchester Council’s planning officers have recommended the committee approve the plans, subject to a number of conditions and agreement on infrastructure contributions from the developer.

Persimmon will be asked to give £93,000 for NHS services, £363,000 for community facilities, upgrade the area’s bus stops, pay for a new Toucan crossing and cycle route and more.

Councillors will vote on the plans on Thursday evening.