Plans for a housing development on the site of a former factory would contain safe levels of contamination, a meeting heard.

Colchester and East Essex Co-operative Society wants outline permission for 70 homes at Capitol House, Main Road, Dovercourt.

A meeting of Harwich Town Council's planning committee heard last night the site used to be a yeast and brick-making factory, and there were some concerns over possible contamination.

Ray Bicks, of Boyer Planning, is working with the Co-op on the scheme and said: "There is a contamination report that went in with the planning application. There's nothing untoward, it's within the recognised limits set by national guidance."

David Cook-Abbott, of the Co-op, said a survey had been carried out which showed some levels of contamination were present in the top levels of the ground, but that had now been removed.

Councillors recommended approval for the outline application for 70 homes, providing issues over the access were resolved.

Published Wednesday, April 23, 2003

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