A DEVELOPER hoping to bring the first McDonald’s restaurant to Harwich has submitted plans for 57 houses and flats on neighbouring land.

Verve Gain (Harwich) Ltd hopes to see the properties built on a site which has been earmarked for 38 houses since 2011.

Developer Orion Land and Leisure renewed planning permission earlier this year.

The area, to the north of Williamsburg Avenue, Dovercourt, has remained unused and boarded off but the fresh plans would see blocks of 24 flats and 33 houses built.

Verve Gain has already applied for permission to build McDonald’s and Costa Coffee drive-through restaurants on land directly to the west of the proposed homes.

A planning statement written in support of the application said: “The planning application follows a recent granting of planning permission for 38 houses on the same site.

“This proposal would deliver a more efficient use of development land.

“The applicant intends to deliver the proposal quickly after planning permission has been secured.”

Williamsburg Avenue resident Justin Hull backed the plans, hoping to finally see action on a long run-down site.

He said: “After years of waiting maybe the estate will finely get finished, but do we really need 24 more flats in Harwich?

“Why not just replace them with more houses to go with the proposed 33?

“With all the new housing it is going to make access into the estate busy.

“This is a good reason to turn the coffee shop and McDonald’s at the entrance to Williamsburg Avenue down do to traffic access.”

But residents of Williamsburg Avenue have reacted with dismay to the restaurant plans, with many expecting to see the land set aside for a children’s play area as part of residential development.

In one of more than a dozen letters of objection from residents, Rebecca Paterson said the plans would be “dangerous.”

“We live in Williamsburg Avenue and we bought this house five years ago under the impression that in the future, phase three would be houses and a park for our future children to be able to play in.

"Under no circumstances were we promised food outlets right at the start of our estate.

“Our first concern is the amount of anti-social behaviour that a McDonald’s will bring, especially if it’s open 24 hours.”

“We already have many boy racers screeching up and down the bypass and in Lidl’s car park.

“If McDonald’s is open 24 hours, I do not feel comforted by having drunken people after a night on the town all congregating at the end of my road.

"This is inevitably going to cause unwanted attention to our what was on the whole a peaceful and family-friendly estate.”

She added: “I understand Harwich as a town is trying to develop and that many will see this as a great addition to their town but I think it’s fair to say they wouldn’t be happy if it was at the end of their road.

“Secondly, having both these food outlets will attract a lot of traffic.

“Traffic that could not only be potentially frustrating when trying to enter our estate, but also dangerous to the children that play around the surrounding areas.”

Tendring Council will have the final say.

  • COUNCILLORS have voted to object to plans to bring the first McDonald’s restaurant to Dovercourt amid fears of increased traffic, litter and anti-social behaviour.

At a meeting of Harwich Town Council on Tuesday, residents of Williamsburg Avenue voiced their opposition to plans for two drive-through restaurants on a long-unused site to the north of the road.

Councillors voted six for and three against objecting to the plans, which would see a McDonald’s and Costa Coffee built, with the promise of more than 80 full and part-time jobs being created.

Councillor Jo Henderson, who supports the scheme, attempted to put forward a proposal of no objection with three conditions, which she had hoped would address many of the concerns put forward by residents.

She said: “The first amendment was reviewed access to incorporate a filter lane from the roundabout, as access is currently too narrow.

“The second was to oppose 24-hour opening due to the site lying on the edge of housing.

“Finally, for a barrier to be placed across the entrance and exit to prevent anti-social behaviour at night.

“There were three votes for my proposal and six against.

“I hope it still goes ahead.

“I know people are talking about building it on land near to Morrisons, but the applicant has obviously looked into the area and found this is the most viable designated commercial retail space.”

She added: “I feel there is a lot of confusion from residents, and some councillors, who are not aware this site was always designated for retail use.

“The same group has put in plans for 57 homes on the residential site to the east, which has long had permission for 38 homes.

“I have proposed the council object to this – as instead of five houses they are looking at 24 flats in three blocks, which is just cramming them in.

“The parking allocation is one space for each one-bedroom flat, if there are couples living in there that is often two cars. “I feel the parking is totally insufficient and the flats are not suitable.”

The restaurant plans will now go before Tendring Council’s planning committee, who will have the final say, with a decision expected in December.