BLUEPRINTS to build 250 new houses on a prime site have been branded “barbaric” by angry town councillors.

Plans have been submitted to build a mix of homes on the huge unused Turpins Farm field, off the corner of Walton Road in Kirby-le-Soken and Elm Tree Avenue in Walton.

The field has long been earmarked for development and is allocated for 70 homes in the emerging local plan.

But the outline is for 250 homes and was heavily criticised by Frinton and Walton town councillors when discussed at its meeting last week.

Nick Turner said: “This is one of the finest sites available for development in Tendring.

“It forms part of the green gap and it is hugely important to the area. There are magnificent views down there and the site really deserves something special.

“These plans are just barbaric. We are not against the principle of development on this land, but it deserves better than this.”

The plan includes access points from Walton Road and Elm Tree Avenue, as well as a portion of open space and a parking area for next-door Hamford Primary Academy to ease congestion.

Councillors said the plan would be a huge overdevelopment of the land.

They also raised concerns over the Walton Road access point, which they said could cause accidents by bringing cars onto a stretch with a 40mph speed limit.

Concerns were also raised over a lack of infrastructure.

The town council voted unanimously to recommend refusal of the application. Tendring Council will make a final decision on the outline proposal, and a full application would have to approved before any building takes place.