A MASTERPLAN is being drawn up for a new estate of up to 1,000 homes at a popular beauty spot will be shown to the public for the first time.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is working on designs for the new development at Middlewick Ranges, off Mersea Road, Colchester.

Military operations based at Middlewick, known affectionately as The Wick by residents of Colchester, will relocate to Fingringhoe in 2021.

After this date the Ministry of Defence is looking to dispose of the land, allowing plans for the new estate to move forward.

Colchester Council has allocated the site for up to 1,000 homes in its Local Plan, but residents and campaigners have been strongly critical of the move since it was announced in 2017.

Earlier this year a petition signed by more than 1,700 people called for the area to be saved as a nature reserve.

READ MORE: Letters: 1,700 signed petition to save Middlewick Ranges

The DIO says its designs will create a new “community” rather than a housing estate and its plans will feature homes of all kinds, community facilities, and a large proportion of green open space for the public.

A spokesman for The DIO, said: “The Ministry of Defence has a long and proud history working with the town of Colchester.

“As the Middlewick Ranges site prepares to enter a new chapter, we are committed to continue working with the community to provide new housing and amenities needed to support the growing town.

“Our plans are at an early stage and we look forward to discussing them with local residents and businesses before we evolve the masterplan further.”

READ MORE: Plea to Defence Secretary to preserve beauty spot

The organisation will be running a series of public consultation events next month where the initial masterplan for how the estate could look will be shown to the public for the first time.

The DIO says feedback from these sessions will be used to “help shape the best possible scheme for the area”.

The first of two engagement events will take place between 2pm and 8pm on Wednesday, July 10, at RCCG Stillwater Centre, in Grange Way.

On Saturday, July 13, between 10am and 3pm, a second consultation event will take place at Orchard Baptist Church, in Mersea Road.

Following the consultation events the proposals and drawings of the plans will be made available online.

Visit middlewickconsultation.co.uk to find out more.