PLANS for new homes in Stanway have been recommended for approval - despite the land being zoned for employment.

Colchester Council planners say the decision on Stane Park - in which an inspector overruled the council - heavily influenced their decision.

O&H Colchester has submitted and outline application for 65 homes off Church Lane in Stanway – an area which is part of the Lakelands site but ringfenced for employment use.

Proposals for Tollgate Village leisure and retail site and Stane Park, a collection of restaurants, both in Stanway, were both originally turned down by the council because the sites were supposed to be used for employment.

But the Stane Park decision was overturned following an appeal. A public inquiry into Tollgate Village will begin next year.

In a report, officers said the planning inspector’s decision to allow Stane Park had a bearing on their decision to recommend approval.

It said: “This application whilst contrary to the council’s Local Plan is recommended for approval having regard to the recent Stane Park appeal decisions which permitted the loss of strategic employment zone land at Stanway.

“Other factors include the site’s relatively small area compared to the overall zone, the fact it is not the highest quality employment land within Stanway and its location adjacent to residential development at Lakelands.

“In reaching the recommendation to grant planning permission significant weight has been given to outcome of the Stane Park appeals where the inspector allowed the developments despite the employment allocation of the land.

“Those decisions are now material considerations and the inspectors justification needs to be carefully considered for any parallel relevance.

“This residential proposal will not create jobs in the way the Stane Park proposals will although it will sustain construction jobs in the area for a short period.

“The loss of this site for employment purposes, were members minded to grant planning permission, will mean the site will be lost for job creation close to a burgeoning community; but it is considered sufficient employment zone land remains allocated and available to ensure that new jobs are created locally in future.”

The exact type of housing has yet to be confirmed, but a potential mix of 46 houses, 17 flats and two flats above garages have been mooted.

Stanway Parish Council has objected to the plans saying the scheme is too dense and overdeveloped.

A final decision will be made by Colchester Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

  • DECISION day is looming for a planning application which has seen more than 1,000 residents lodge objections.

Flagship Housing wants to build a mixture of affordable housing ranging from one bedroom houses to three bedroom houses on part of the Lakelands development off Tollgate Road in Stanway.

More than 1,000 residents have signed a petition against the plans which has been presented to Colchester Council who fear they would lose a well-used green space at the opening of nearby Churchfields Avenue if the proposals went ahead.

Stanway Parish Council also lodged an objection.

The plans have been called in to be discussed at the next meeting of Colchester Council’s planning committee on Tuesday by Kevin Bentley (Con) and the meeting has been moved to Moot Hall to accommodate extra people likely to attend.

In his submission, Mr Bentley said: “I wish to call this application in on the following grounds: design, appearance and the layout being too crammed in to a small space. 

“The impact on visual or residential amenity including potential loss of daylight or sunlight or overshadowing, loss of privacy, noise, disturbance, smell or nuisance for the reason that this area would severely affect the visual impact of housing nearby.”