ONE of the most beautiful views around will be lost if a developer is allowed to build up to 78 homes at the site of an animal sanctuary, residents have claimed.

Villagers targeted the outline planning application to build at the site of Mistley Place Park at a public meeting.

Around 100 residents packed the meeting room at the village hall.

Montague Asset Management, in partnership with Woodbridge Estate and Land, had displayed the final designs for the development to the public earlier in the day.

The application proposes building up to 78 homes on a five-acre piece of land on the site.

They also promise to restore Mistley Place Park by dredging and regrading the lake, improving the woodland and meadows, and building a new café and car park.

The overwhelming majority of residents at the public meeting opposed the plans, voicing concerns over traffic, travel and the loss of a visual amenity.

Robert Farrow, of Manningtree, said: “Some of the paper work is a traffic assessment done by developer.

“To look at impact of the houses we need to think about this along with other developments as they will have a cumulative effect.

“The proposals currently are for 1,100 new dwellings - already a 30 per cent increase in population - and that’s not including the plans for homes in East Bergholt.

“Most will be commuters, going to work in London.

“At present time the road systems at places like Cox’s Road and Station Road – they’re already not coping with the traffic at peak times.”

Resident Tom Hancock said: “Basically there may be a need for houses but why would we put some in the most beautiful view we have around here – it is as simple as that.”

An online petition against the plans has reached 685 signatures.

Tendring Council will have the final say on the application.