A REPORT has criticised plans for a £25million heritage centre in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The study, commissioned by Colchester Council, called into question the claimed benefits of the proposed Horkesley Park heritage and conservation centre scheme.

Planning firm Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, which carried out the assessment, claimed the scheme would need to function like a major shopping centre in order to attract 485,000 visitors a year.

It said 422,000 visitors a year would be needed for it to break even.

The report added: “If visitor numbers fall significantly short of the 485,000 projection, then some or all of the tourist elements of the development could close or employment costs would need to be significantly reduced and the development could not deliver 226 jobs as suggested.

“The worst-case scenario would be the tourist attractions closed and there would be pressure to find an alternative use for the buildings.”

Stephen Bunting, who submitted the plans to Colchester Council last January, said the report was deeply flawed as it cherry-picked elements of the proposals.

He said: “We have informed Colchester Council the Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners’ appraisal is seriously flawed due to it being restricted to a consideration of only some aspects of the scheme, selective representation of it, incorrect application of relevant policies and overwhelming inaccuracies.

“It would be wholly irresponsible to rely upon the content and conclusions of a deeply flawed, limited and inaccurate appraisal, produced by one consultant in a few weeks, rather than on what has been undertaken over several years by more than 12 independent, specialist firms.”