SENIOR councillors have revealed they too are not happy with how initial plans for Colchester's 'cultural quarter' have been set out.

The blueprints put forward by Alumno Group and Building Partnerships, which include a 90-bed hotel, student accommodation and shops between Queen Street and Firstsite, have been roundly criticised by campaigners as well as political and environmental activists.

They claim the designs put forward are "bland" and "box-like" while there are also serious concerns over how 330-bed student accommodation fits into the 'cultural quarter' brief.

During a meeting of Colchester Council's ruling cabinet, during which the plans were again criticised by Labour campaigners Alan Short and Victoria Weaver, both council leader Mark Cory and his deputy Tim Young admitted they too were underwhelmed by the proposals.

Labour boss Mr Young said: "This development is going to be very good for Colchester.

"That's the the view of the Labour group but we obviously haven't communicated it well to some members of the party but this is a very good scheme.

"I would agree some of the drawings on show I'm not happy with.

"It doesn't give a flavour of what will be a really good scheme which will bring people into Colchester."

Mr Young also said 80 per cent of people who attended the pre-planning consultation were in favour of the development - a figure which was publicly disputed by fellow Labour member Miss Weaver.

He added: "The majority of of consultees were in favour of what we're doing here.

"We need to get the really good details out."

The Labour leader added: "For example, there will be a tree-lined boulevard from Priory Street right up to the Curzon and a public square for public performance and pop-up shops which will bring a real boost to the area."

Mark Cory, leader of Colchester Council, added: "This was a pre-planning exercise - an initial consultation which perhaps needed to happen as well.

"There a things we will will respond to Alumno Group with to ensure they are celebrating the good parts of the project which have not been put forward to some people."

He added: "This is the best we can find for this area and will be a very positive development but we do need to sell those positives more to other people."