A RADICAL development could revolutionise a popular recreation area if community leaders decide to give it the thumbs-up.

An ambitious London developer has set his sights on transforming Swan Court allotments, near Harwich Road and School Lane, in Mistley, into a pine grove, which would include a range of facilities for the community.

The plan is to create a pinetum, or circular pine grove, on the land, which would be similar to Bedgebury National Pinetum, in Kent, but on a smaller scale.

There are very few currently in existence in England, and developer, Sandor Glausius, believes the site in Mistley is an ideal spot.

Mr Glausius, who has owned the land off Harwich Road for ten years, said: "It's a lovely area, it's near the sea and it's far away enough from busy towns to be quiet.

"School Lane is like a little land lost in the forest, while Mistley is quite a sophisticated little village."

Mr Glausius said he wants to create a "beautiful, quiet and unique" space that would include an amphitheatre sculpted by conifer trees.

He said the park would be exclusively for community use and would, hopefully, include toilets, car parking, a basketball or tennis court, an open lawn, jogging track and a children's park.