DEVELOPERS have put forward their plans to build nearly 2,000 new homes on countryside in north Colchester.

A public exhibition outlining the developers’ proposal for the 250-acre plot off Nayland Road was held on Saturday.

The developers, Mersea Homes and Countryside Properties, are due to submit a planning application in spring next year.

Colchester Borough Council’s housing blueprint, known as the Core Strategy, has already identified the Mile End site as a suitable location for about 2,200 houses.

A spokesman for the developers said: “We understand that development of this scale will raise concerns from local residents.

“However, there is a housing shortage, particularly for affordable housing, which has been further impacted by the recent recession. This is a problem which can only be resolved by strategic development like this.”

Community group Love Myland was formed to oppose over-development in Mile End.

David Clouston, a Love Myland committee member, said: “The experience of development in this area has, in the past, been uniformly awful. Promises have been broken and there’s very little trust at community level.

“Two of the biggest concerns about this development are the problems that will be caused by traffic and the lack of open space.

“This is closely followed by the provision of community facilities, such as community halls, which require ongoing funding.

“If there’s going to be a large-scale development our concern is that it is done right with the correct infrastructure in place.”

More than 200 people attended the public exhibitions held in the pavilion at Mile End recreation ground and Queen Boudica Primary School.

The proposed development includes sites for a primary and secondary school, a food store, healthcare facilities and sports facilities.

Councillor Martin Goss, who represents Mile End on Colchester Borough Council, said: “We don’t want this development, but if it’s going to go ahead then we need to make sure it’s done properly with the best possible deal for residents.

“The housing numbers proposed have already come down to about 1,800 and I think we can get it down to about 1,600.

“I think people who visited the exhibition were pleasantly surprised that at least 30% of the development will be retained as open space. People also liked the idea of the sports field being expanded and a community centre.”

The developers have launched a website to give details about their plans which can be viewed and commented on at www.colchesternorth.co.uk.