A MAJOR housing scheme that promises “a stunning Northern gateway to Frinton” has been dismissed as “bog standard rubbish.”

Town councillors resolved last week to oppose the Turpins Fram development, whose latest plans have been scaled down from 250 homes to 210.

They demanded better designs for the “stunning” site overlooking Hamford Waters, likening the current plans to industrial Dagenham, suggesting Bath’s Regency terraces as an alternative.

“We are not against the principal of development. It has to be the right style of housing, not this bog standard rubbish from architects who don’t deserve the name architects,” said town and district councillor Nick Turner.

Mr Turner again accused developers, in this case the Burghes Estate, of “greed and avarice,” saying the proposed site is “one of the finest in Essex.”

“You can still get some decent money on this site with bigger houses. Put in a beautiful Nash style terrace like The Crescent at Bath. Something like that would be gorgeous. Or you can bring in modern ways like Frinton’s Art Deco,” he said.

Coun Vanda Watlin likened the planned layout of those maps children play cars on.

“It’s a special site. It deserves special architecture,” she added.

“It looks like Dagenham,” commented Paul Clifton.

The scheme includes childrens play areas and a drop-off point to serve the nearby Hamford Primary School.

Vanda Watlin warned the drop off point was not needed as the school has no room for extra children.

Delyth Miles said this development alone might mean 100 more children needing a school place, with 200 more in total from other planned developments in the area.

Members recommended Tendring Council refuses the outline application, saying part of the planned site suffers flooding, the development would harm the green gap between Frinton/Walton and Kirby Le Soken and better quality lower density housing would be better for the location.

The town council also wanted more detail before approving plans, adding local sewerage, schools, road and doctor’s surgeries could not cope with current numbers.