AN eyesore site which was once set to become a Tesco will finally be cleared up and converted into homes.

Plans for nine houses at the former Cherry Tree Garage in Blackheath, Colchester, have been been approved by Colchester Council.

The future of the site has been up in the air for close than a decade with the supermarket giants submitting plans for a Tesco Express store in 2008.

More than 700 residents signed a petition against the store fearing it would attract too much traffic and there would be insufficient parking for the homes.

The scheme was turned down by Colchester Council but a Government planning inspector overturned the decision and granted them permission to build the store alongside 13 homes in 2009.

After the appeal was won, little progress was made on the site despite contractors clearing the area to seemingly allow building work to begin.

Last year, Tesco announced the idea had been scrapped as apart of a company-wide costcutting drive.

Nearby residents have been forced to tidy up the hoardings when they have fallen down or been damaged.

The new scheme features two three-bedroom houses and seven four-bedroom homes and is designed to provide high-quality, modern accommodation according to a planning statement.

The developer had originally been proposing a ten house site to Colchester Council but reduced the number after concerns were raised about parking and the size of the homes.