A PROPOSAL to build 800 homes on the outskirts of Ardleigh looks set to be dropped.

The plan, which could have led to the creation of 1,300 jobs in the area, would have seen development of land on the doorstep of Colchester’s St John’s ward, near the Ardleigh Interchange.

Tendring Council leader Neil Stock has revealed the council would probably not propose major development for the boundary with Colchester, as part of Tendring’s local development framework. Instead, the bulk of growth would likely be in Clacton.

The council set out four options in April for 10,000 new jobs and 6,500 homes to be built by 2026.

Mr Stock, a Conservative who represents Ardleigh, said he wanted to see more housing and jobs created in and around Clacton, in order to make it more popular for retailers and tourists.

He said: “As leader of the council, regardless of the fact I’m the member for Ardleigh, putting lots of housing there is not going to do anything to benefit Tendring as a district.

“Tendring has major issues in terms of deprivation. Putting housing in Ardleigh is going to do nothing to address that. It’s just going to make traffic problems in and around Colchester even worse than they are at the moment.”

Development in Ardleigh would have had an impact on homes and traffic near Ipswich Road, in the Colchester borough.

Paul Smith, councillor for Colchester’s St John’s ward, who had objected to the Ardleigh option, said: “This is good news for the residents of St John’s.

“We’re delighted our efforts of working with Tendring are going to produce such a good outcome, not just for Colchester, but also for Tendring.”

John Taylor, chairman of St John’s Residents’ Association, said: “This sounds as if common sense is prevailing.”