Colchester’s regeneration boss Tim Young has warned if the plans are not given the go ahead, the Queen Street site will remain as a “barren wasteland”.

Mr Young, who is a vocal supporter of the scheme, criticised a “storm whipped up by people peddling misinformation” and warned many of the 376 objections will be rejected out of hand because they do not focus on planning considerations.

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Mr Young added: “If this doesn’t get built, it will stay as a rubble-strewn wasteland.

“Is it perfect? No. But no planning application is perfect.

“No other plans have come forward which come close to complying with the masterplan or local plan.

“The bottom has fallen out of the retail sector and we are reaching saturation point with restaurants and bars.

“This meets all the criteria and will finally bring an atmosphere to this part of the town entre.”