THE leader of Colchester Council has defended its bid to buy a key parcel of land near a potential housing development.

Colchester Council is in negotiations to buy the 33-acre site off Severalls Lane, in north Colchester, for an undisclosed sum.

The land is near Langham, where there is the potential for a garden village settlement including 4,000 homes.

Council leader Paul Smith said: “It makes sense for us to accrue the land as part of our longer-term development.

“We are conscious we have done well out of the fact we bought the land at Cuckoo Farm, Colchester,  in the  Seventies

“This new site  is not something we are likely to develop straight away.

“It may be something we keep as open space.

“If we own the land, we can decide what goes on it."

Planning consultants Edward Gittins and Associates want  the  council to include the blueprint for the Langham Garden Village in its Local Plan.

The Local Plan sets out where about 15,000 homes and commercial premises can be built across the borough until 2032.

The council will put forward potential sites  for the plan by June and there will be a public consultation.

A planning inspector would be likely to decide by the end of 2017 on the final sites for inclusion in the plan7.

Mr Smith said: “The independent inspector who will examine the plan will be very mindful of any addition in favour of one land owner over another and that includes the council.

“We have to demonstrate the sites we are putting forward are the best we can offer.”

The land at Cuckoo Farm is currently being developed as part of the council's Northern Gateway scheme, which includes a new gym and leisure complex.

Colchester’s first Park and Ride opened there last year.