Thousands of new homes could be built in Colchester

More than 180 sites totalling almost 1,675 hectares, equivalent to 2,320 Premier League football pitches, were suggested for potential housing developments as part of Colchester Council’s “call for sites” consultation.

Among the sites is almost 40 acres of water meadows off Cymbeline Way which is often used by funfairs and circuses.

High Steward of Colchester, Sir Bob Russell, has called for the council to throw out the “crazy” suggestion.

Concerned - Sir Bob Russell at the site off Cymbeline Way (Image: Sir Bob Russell)

'Ludicrous'

The former MP said: “To build on these meadows, which are prone to flooding, would be stark staring bonkers.”

Sir Bob compared the idea to a bid to build a new supermarket and football stadium on the water meadows more than 40 years ago.

“It was not approved because it was on the flood plain and it is still on the flood plain,” he added.

“With climate change and rising water levels, it is a ludicrous site for housing.”

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Colchester Council’s local plan committee will consider the suggestions at a meeting on Thursday.

Huge - the sites suggested for housing developments span the same size as 2,320 Premier League football pitches (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA)

Where else could new homes be built in Colchester?

During the consultation, residents, landowners, and developers were among those who put forward suggestions for sites which could be developed across the city.

A total of 184 submissions were promoting sites, in total covering about 119 times the size of Stansted Airport’s runway, which could be used for housing, while 11 respondents put forward sites to be used for other uses like employment and nature reserves.

Developments - the suggested sites total 119 times the size of Stansted Airport's runway (Image: Richard Humphrey)

Other sites suggested for housing developments included a 50 hectare plot near the Northern Gateway scheme and Colchester Sports Park and 38 hectares of land off St John’s Road.

Not all sites put forward during the consultation will go on to be allocated for development.

Several replies to the consultation called for Middlewick Ranges, a former Army training base which is currently earmarked for the development of 1,000 homes, to be retained as a green space.

The Ministry of Defence-owned site is included in the council’s local plan, which was approved by councillors in 2022 and could see 15,970 homes built in the city by 2033.