Revised plans for a new housing development in Wivenhoe have left residents worried that services and infrastructure will not be able to cope.

Developer Cala’s proposal follows Manor Oak Homes' submission of plans for a minimum of 80 homes and a 60-bed care home to Colchester Council at the start of the year. 

Cala is trying to expand the project by seeking planning permission for 85 “high-quality new homes", including 17 affordable homes. 

The new plans also include a children’s play area as part of the public open space and promises contributions towards local education and transport infrastructure. 

Site - access to the new development will be next to the town's fire station (Image: Google)Site - access to the new development will be next to the town's fire station (Image: Google)

Cala says at least five of the 85 planned homes will be charity homes for elderly people in need of housing. 

The developer is hosting an in-person consultation event for residents on July 23 at Wivenhoe Town Council's chamber in High Street between 3pm and 7pm. 

Residents will also be able to have their say online during a consultation period running until July 30. 

Some have already voiced their concerns about the project, criticising the lack of infrastructure. 

Fred Gibby, 57, said: “My concerns are about doctors' surgeries and schools not being able to cope at the moment, and this build and the other one in Wivenhoe is adding 200 homes to the area with no infrastructure.” 

Jeff Wilson, 60, said: "I'm a relative newcomer to Wivenhoe. We moved out of a very crowded east London to somewhere more peaceful during lockdown, and Wivenhoe had the lot - shops, doctors, pubs and restaurants.

"The developments planned in and around Wivenhoe are a natural expansion for a crowded south east.

"Unfortunately, for some long term residents the expansion is seen as a bad thing and there are fears that doctors, schools, roads and general infrastructure will be swamped so these concerns need taking into account by the council and developers need to be held to account if they're not addressed.

"In the next few years hundreds of new homes will be built and the closest train station is down a crowded single street, so that's not ideal.

"But the local landowners are selling the land - not the town council.

"The new Government, that many in Wivennhoe voted for, have pledged to build over a million new homes, they have to go somewhere.

!And with land becoming available , developers will jump at the chance.

"Wivenhoe has always grown as far as I can see, there are additional developments every 20 or 30 years and this is just more of the same cycle."

The initial proposal said it was “highly unlikely the site would yield a significantly greater number of units than 80”. 

Wivenhoe councillor Mark Cory said he will make sure residents in the area are protected.

He said: " It is positive to see a public consultation is being held and I reckon residents will go along to share their views and thoughts.

"The developers should take on the concerns from residents. I will make sure residents in Heath Road will be protected.

"It is time to make developers listen to the public consultation and to make sure they stick to the Neighbourhood Plan."

Bosses at Cala have said to take the feedback into consideration for the final plans ahead of the proposal to Colchester Council.

Neil Farnsworth, Head of Planning at Cala Homes said: “We know more sustainable homes are wanted in Essex, so we’re ensuring the new homes at Wivenhoe will help residents live more sustainably.

"Throughout the consultation, we want to hear local people’s views on the proposals for this site, take on their feedback, and ensure this is a high-quality community that delivers value for the local area.

“Our proposed scheme in Wivenhoe will deliver much-needed, high-quality new homes and will support Colchester City Council with its housing need of around 1,000 new homes per year to ensure housing availability and affordability is delivered throughout the city.”