CAMPAIGN group Save the Wick has said that the Government’s new housing proposal should make development on Middlewick "less likely".

The proposed target for Colchester has been set at 1,290 new homes annually – up from the current target of 1,043 homes a year.

A spokesman for Save the Wick said: “None of Labour's housing plans change the national level value of Middlewick Ranges or the UK environmental legislation designed to protect such sites of high biodiversity value.

“The emphasis on building on 'green' or 'grey' belt land, often of significantly lower wildlife value than Middlewick, should in principle take the pressure off such premier wildlife sites”.

They described the Wick as “ancient unploughed grassland” rather than “grey, green or brown belt land”.

The spokesman added: “The council has reassured us they are listening to the new evidence and will respect the decision of their appointed ecologist.

“Middlewick now risks to undermine the integrity of the entire Local Plan; and every passing week the council is missing the opportunity to search for alternative more viable and less impactful sites.”

Council leader David King said: “Government announcements should make no difference to decisions over Middlewick.

“Any development and planning proposals will be judged on their merits against the robust protections already in place.”