A housebuilder is planning to build several new homes in Colchester, right at a location of archaeological interest.

Housebuilder Seven Developments LTD is bidding to build four detaches homes with garage space at land east of The Ridings, Malting Green Road, Layer De La Haye, a planning application has revealed.

As part of the plans, the company is planning to demolish a stable building currently occupying the site.

Alongside the application, which was sent to Colchester Council on September 17, a “written scheme of investigation for an archaeological evaluation” was submitted.

This is because the land is only 140 metres north-west of a site with several Grade II listed buildings such as Great House Farmhouse, a 16th-century timber-framed house, Gaye Cottage, a 17th century timber-framed house, and more.

The surrounding area is Layer Heath which contains “ancient field boundaries”.

If the application goes ahead, it is recommended that an archaeological dig takes place on the land given it has a “high potential for archaeological remains”.

The report said: “The archaeological work will consist of a 5 per cent sample trial-trenched evaluation.

“Specifically, Colchester Archaeological Trust proposes to excavate four T-shaped trial-trenches and four linear trenches covering a 5 per cent sample of the site which has been calculated accordingly alongside the root protection plan.

“All trenches (T) will be 1.8m wide, T1, T2, T3 and T4 will be 24m long.

“T5 will measure 5m long, T6, T7 and T8 will be 6m long, this equates to a linear length of 121m covering an area of 217.80m2.”

A decision is yet to be made by Colchester Council.