A SCHEME to refurbish historic waterside buildings is back on course following fears developers would pull out.

Colchester-based Lexden Restorations secured planning permission to transform 26 Hythe Quay into flats as part of a major regeneration for the east of the town. This included repairing a wall, creating 21 parking spaces, a new riverside pedestrian route and a landscaped area nearby.

But when the agreement with Colchester Council came through, the developers said it could not agree to a clause which meant it would be responsible for the upkeep of the wall indefinitely.

Members of the planning committee were told officers do not know who owns the wall, and said it was unlikely they would ever find out.

Planning officer Bradley Heffer said it was not felt to be unreasonable the developer pays for the maintenance of the wall and recommended members refuse the scheme if the matter could not be resolved.

But Jonathan Franks, of Lexden Restorations, said: “We are being asked to pay an unquantified amount of money on walls, some of which we don’t own. If you refuse this application you are turning your backs on the opportunity to have these historic buildings for future generations.”

Councillors sympathised with Mr Franks and understood he would not want to pay for the upkeep of a wall he did not own.

Mary Blandon (Harbour, Lib Dem) said: “It is very difficult. Mr Franks is offering to do the work on it and I really do think we would be getting a bargain.”

Steve Ford (Con, Wivenhoe) raised concerns about who would then be responsible when work was needed on the wall in the future.

He said: “Is it going to be the borough council? Because if it is then the taxpayer might not be very happy in a few years time when they hear they are having to pay for it.”

The developer will not now be responsible for the wall’s upkeep.