CONTROVERSIAL plans for 67 homes on “beautiful” greenfield land in Mistley could be delayed to allow archaeologists to dig for potentially prehistoric remains.

Campaigners had hoped to stop a scheme for houses on land off New Road and Green Lane, Mistley, before an application was made.

Hollins Strategic Land invited comments from the public before submitting the blueprints, claiming to have sent consultation leaflets to up to 300 households by the end of November last year.

Mistley Conservation Group disputed this and said the developers were “hell bent” on destroying one of the village’s most beautiful green spaces.

Since the plans were submitted to Tendring Council last week, residents have filed more than 70 letters of objection.

Protesters are urging the council to “take a stand for our countryside”.

Specialists with Essex County Council have now found evidence of historical remains on the site which could date back thousands of years.

Teresa O’Connor, historic environment officer, said: “The Essex Historic Environment Record records a number of cropmark features in the surrounding area that would indicate a high probability of surviving archaeological remains.

“These include ring ditches and enclosures which may be prehistoric in origin.

“To the south, aerial photographic evidence indicates the route of a Roman road which ran to Colchester.

“In the late 1800s the land formed part of the parkland for Mistley Hall, prior to this the Heritage Statement indicates that it was in agricultural use bordering the settlement at Mistley.

“The site lies within the Conservation Area, which includes the historic settlement and historic house and parkland at Mistley and there is potential for archaeological remains relating to the settlement to survive.”

She recommended that no development should start until a professional team of archaeologists complete fieldwork at the site.

A planning statement in support of the application said: “The proposals set out are for a high quality, conservation-led development that on objective assessment has no negative impacts on material planning considerations and a low positive benefit on the conservation area.

“It has a major benefit in delivering new housing, meeting a number of social objectives in conformity with the framework and, where relevant, local planning policy.

“The planning balance is clearly in favour of granting planning permission for the development.”

  • ANGRY residents have blasted “horrific” plans for 67 homes on greenfield land in Mistley.

Kerry Rogers, of Hilton Close, Manningtree, said: “It is absolutely horrific to even consider this application.

“I have lived here all my life and Green Lane is an historical place with an abundance of wildlife and the only place left to walk in peace.

“This whole area is being concreted over, once it has gone you cannot get it back.”

Nigel Brown, of Station Road, Bradfield, added: “Having witnessed the many changes that the area has undergone over those years, this proposed development is by far the most damaging to both the local neighbourhood as well as surrounding villages.

“I strongly object to the many negative impacts that a development of this size and nature will have on all local amenities – car parking, traffic congestion, medical services, schools to name but a few.”

Objectors were also outraged over the potential loss of a prominent part of the picturesque Essex Way walking route.

Objections were submitted from as far afield as London.