EIGHTY new homes and a new scout hut could be built on farmland surrounding a village care home.

Plans have been submitted to develop on 32 acres of land off Nayland Road, Great Horkesley.

The site surrounds Great Horkesley Manor Care Home, a 72-bed care home facility.

Also in the plans are two public open spaces fronting onto Nayland Road, an allotment, a car park for the scout hut and new access.

There would also be pedestrian crossings over Nayland Road, which forms part of the A134 between Colchester and Suffolk.

The applicant and landowner Kathryn De La Garza, is in talks with Essex County Council to contribute to creating a shared pedestrian and cycle path between the site and Mile End and to help get the speed limit reduced on Nayland Road from 60mph to 40mph.

Christopher Arnold, chairman of Great Horkesley Parish Council and Colchester councillor for Rural North ward, said the developer had worked with the councils for the proposal.

The land has also been identified for up to 80 homes in Colchester Council's Local Plan.

About 200 people attended a public consultation on the plans last autumn.

Mr Arnold said: "There have also been two previous exhibitions in the village since the land was first put forward for development.

"Nearly every village in Colchester is having to put forward something for the review of the Local Plan.

"There were many other sites in Great Horkesley and this was one the parish council would have most to contribute on the least harmful space.

"Some would have the village sprawling out into the countryside, this is actually quite contained."

Mr Arnold said the site would be within walking and cycling distance of the community hub that will develop in Mile End.

He said scouts and guides had suggested they needed a new base as the existing hut, behind the village hall, is in poor condition and lacks enough parking spaces.

He added: "There will be people who don't like more houses but the borough council has realised every village has to get more houses and I would rather we worked with the developer and got something worthwhile for the village than developers impose ideas on the village."

Colchester Council aims to have the final say on the planning application by May 3.

Ms De La Garza was contacted for comment.