MERSEA islanders are celebrating after a development plan was thrown out at an appeal after almost five years.

BlueSquare Homes’ bid to create a new 56-home estate on land off East Road, West Mersea, was turned down by Colchester Council last year.

Officers rejected the proposals, which were first submitted in July 2017, for eight reasons, including as the site has not been allocated for homes in the Local Plan.

But a public inquiry put the controversial plans under the microscope after the developer appealed the council’s decision.

However, planning inspector Nick Palmer has now thrown out the appeal stating the risk of damage to the picturesque island was too concerning.

He said: “I have found harms to the character and appearance of the area, including harm to the setting of a heritage asset which together weigh considerably against the development.”

Serious concerns were also raised about highway safety, as traffic calming measures proposed as part of the plans looked likely to cause huge tailbacks as far as The Fox Inn, in East Road.

Mr Palmer added: “If visibility were inadequate, drivers on East Road could be forced to brake suddenly to avoid collision with vehicles emerging from the access, and there would be greater potential for collision.”

Furthermore, it is estimated there are 8,600 people at just two of East Mersea’s four major caravan sites, which could generate up to 2,000 cars on the island in one day to travel to the beach.

Celebrating the inspector’s decision, West Mersea councillor John Akker said: “There is already significant housing development approved locally and it’s important to the community for our Neighbourhood Plan to provide an important basis for local planning.

“The appeal contains some really important statements about the character of Mersea, in particular it is a predominantly a remote and tranquil area which includes some of the least settled areas of the English coast.

“The appeal also points to the coastal protection belt and the impact development could have on the landscape character of the coast.”