COUNCILLORS have backed multi-million pound plans for a leisure park featuring a state-of-the-art multiplex cinema, despite representations from rival developers.

The huge Northern Gateway scheme – which would feature the 12-screen cinema, restaurants and an 80-bed hotel on land south of the A12 – was given the green light by Colchester Council’s planning committee last night.

Planning officers had recommended the scheme, which is being put forward by developers Turnstone on behalf of the council, for approval.

Chris Goldsmith from Turnstone said: “This application is exciting and will put Colchester on the leisure map.

“We seem to have been caught up in sniping with a landowner who has seen their application, which is nothing like ours, rejected by the council.

Rival developers the Tollgate Partnership objected to the plans.

Their bid to build a £70million leisure and retail complex in Stanway including a cinema, shops and restaurants have been refused twice by Colchester Council and a decision from a planning inspector is expected next month after they appealed/ Representing the partnership Jayne Gee warned the council they could face a legal challenge to the plans.

She said: “The flaws in this application are clear and obvious, the inconsistencies with the council’s handling of Tollgate Village are blatant.

“It goes without saying the council need to act in a consistent manner in the consideration of all applications, particularly given its interest in the site.

“As the developers of Tollgate Retail Park, we have no objection to a cinema outside of the town centre, however, we do object to the very clear inconsistent manner in which officers have dealt with this application before you, compared with the Tollgate Village application at the inquiry earlier this year.”

As councillors backed the officer’s recommendations the plans will have to be seen by the secretary of state because of the sheer scale of the scheme.

He will then decide whether it is called-in for consideration or it can go ahead straight away.

Sports facilities could be developed by the council nearby later on.

Click here to see how the meeting panned out.