ONE of the country’s top heritage architects has called for controversial plans for Colchester’s Cultural Quarter to be refused and warned the area could become a “run-down ghetto with little hope of reuse”.

John Burton MBE, who, until he retired, worked as the surveyor of the fabric at both Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, is among more than 300 objectors to the scheme put forward by Alumno and backed by Colchester Council’s ruling cabinet.

As part of the scheme, more than 300 student flats would be built alongside an 87-bed Travelodge.

Proponents of the scheme say it will create a public realm area and will a number of performance spaces will be on offer.

In his submission to Colchester Council, Mr Burton, who in 2013 was awarded an MBE for services to the conservation of historic architecture, states: “My objection to the application is that the need for such a concentration of student accommodation, is not proven.

“These hostel style buildings will not easily convert to other uses in the future, if the accommodation demand falls.

“There is no evidence this style of accommodation will generate the needed footfall to revitalise the Queen Street district.

“A potential very attractive cultural area could in the future be a run down ghetto with little hope of reuse.”

He adds: “The planning committee in my mind should take cognisance of the large number of objectors; even though they do not all argue on planning grounds.

“The quantity of objections indicates a very serious disquiet about this application.”

Mr Burton also takes aim at the scheme’s backers for relying on a statement of need on student accommodation which itself states is “not a formal valuation, appraisal or recommendation”.

The MBE adds: “The council cannot rely on this statement as proof of the need for additional student accommodation. Indeed the report states they must not.

“The scheme should be refused, as it will not generate the footfall needed to stimulate a town centre location. An alternative solution is required.”

The expert also writes: “I continue to believe a Cultural Quarter is desperately needed to revitalise this area.

“The council has expended with others considerable sums on an anchor building for a cultural area, in the form of Firstsite.

“I am saddened that the published council desire for a cultural quarter seems to have been cast aside for short-term gain with this application.”

Colchester Council planning committee will decide upon the application in November.

Meanwhile, Bridget Harris, headteacher at St Thomas More's primary school, has also lodged an objection outlining safeguarding concerns for her students. 

In her submission, she states: "I have safeguarding concerns regarding the proposed student bedrooms overlooking a school playingfield. 

"The field is for school use only although the plans appear to make it look like part of the development.

"It would not be appropriate for young children to be able to look into student bedrooms nor would it be appropriate for students to have an unobscured view of the children."