A MULTI-million pound restaurant development has been temporarily stopped in its tracks as structures have been built in the wrong place.

The buildings at Stane Park in Stanway are just centimetres away from the original agreed plan.

But they are enough to halt the development while the problem is investigated.

Developer Churchmanor Estates said the problem had arisen after contracted builders incorrectly input the GPS co-ordinates.

The mistake has resulted in the structure being placed in the wrong position.

The £12 million development was set to be complete by August next year but now it will now pushed back by a six weeks while developers work out how to rectify and complete the work.

Lexden resident Jeremy Hagon, 43, highlighted the problem after he noticed work had came to a standstill at the site which is opposite Sainsbury’s in Stanway.

He said: “My daughter goes to school in Stanway and I have an office here. I’ve known this area for 43 years.

“I parked the car one day and started speaking to people on the site and then I found out the work has stopped.

“I’ve been told the jobs are still coming to the area.

“It’s just that people want to know what’s going on in the area in which they live in.

“They also want to know if there’s going to be work here.”

Stephen Clark, of Churchmanor Estates, confirmed there had been an error and works had stopped while the mistake was rectified.

He could not say what course of action would be taken, or if the structure would have to be taken down again.

He said: “These things happen and sadly a small human error has led to a slight delay in completion.

“But the good thing is the leisure park will, after a five-year-wait, be finished next summer.”

Plans for Stanes Park were originally refused by Colchester Council back in 2016 as it claimed it would have a detrimental impact on the town centre.

However, Churchmanor Estates appealed against the decision which was overturned by a Government inspector.

It meant a number of restaurants, cafés and bars will be coming to the area including Nandos, Bella Italia, Coast to Coast, KFC and Starbucks.

Once completed Stane Park will cover two sites on more than two-and-a-half hectares of land just off the Stanway Western bypass.

A total of 115 full-time 125 part-time jobs are expected to be created.

A spokesperson for Churchmanor Estates said work will continue on the Stane Leisure Park but confirmed there is likely to be a six week delay while a solution is found.

Rose Builders, which is the main contractors for Stane Leisure Park, said: “There has been a human error in setting out the GPS co-ordinates.

“They have been input incorrectly which has led to some of the works being built in the wrong position.

“Nevertheless we are sorting this problem out but the major part of the construction work including to the car park, drainage and access roads are all continuing a pace.”

The new McMullens Chicken and Grill pub will not be impacted by the delay and is due to open later this year.