Plans for 90 homes in Copford set to be approved by council

Colchester Council’s planning committee is set to approve proposals by the housing association Anchor to build a block of 90 assisted living flats in Copford.

If the plans are given the nod, an extension to Dorothy Curtice Court, an existing development of sheltered accommodation in London Road, could also be established.

Hundreds of worried villagers have written to Colchester Council’s planning department to raise concerns over the plans.

Existing site - Dorothy Curtice Court in Copford (Image: Newsquest)

Among the objections is a four-page letter from Copford with Easthorpe Parish Council, which says it “objects in the strongest possible terms”.

Parish councillors have pointed out that despite the site being allocated for development in Colchester Council’s local plan, at 90 homes the application is for 20 homes more than what is allocated.

Pressures on existing infrastructure in the village are also among the concerns raised.

“NHS providers have confirmed there is no capacity at the two local doctors’ surgeries,” the parish council added. “This is a serious concern.”

'Out of keeping'

The new buildings would be made up of 32 one-bedroom and 40 two-bedroom flats in the assisted living block, and 13 one-bedroom flats and five two-bedroom flats in the extension to the existing site.

Concerns about parking and sewage are also among the 233 objection letters received by planners, while several complainants feel the height of the proposed buildings are inappropriate.

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One frustrated resident wrote: “No surrounding buildings are three storey and [the proposed project] would be completely out of keeping with the local area.”

Access to the development through nearby Queensbury Avenue is another point mentioned by dozens of objectors.

Campaign - Copford residents protesting against access to the development via Queensbury Avenue (Image: Newsquest)

“This would create too much traffic for residents that already live here,” another resident said.

They added: “It would be impossible to get out onto London Road, which is already difficult in the mornings. Queensbury Avenue is not designed for heavy traffic.”

Another comment said: “Access will have a significant detriment to all residents of the Queensbury area.”

Members of the council’s planning committee will debate the proposals at a meeting on Thursday.