TWO public consultation events are being held to give local people a say over plans to build 120 homes on a former orchard site.

Lands Improvement will soon apply for permission to build the homes north of the former Betts Factory site, in Ipswich Road, Colchester.

The first consultation session will be at the St John’s Community Centre, in St John’s Close, on Friday, May 29, between 3pm and 8pm. A second event will be between 11am and 2pm the next day at the Dragonfly Hotel, by the A12/A120 Ardleigh Junction.

Although full details of the proposals will not be released until the consultation, Lands Improvement has described the development as “landscape-led”and a “sustainable extension” to the 200 homes already being built on the Betts site.

Kathryn Turner, of Lands Improvement, said: “It’s very important we discuss our approachwith everyone interested and listen to their views.”

Although Colchester people are being consulted about the application, the site actually lies in the Tendring district, with Tendring Council having the final say.

Mrs Turner said the company had already held talks with both Tendring and Colchester councils, with the public consultation likely to help it finalise its plans before a formal application went in.