A DEVELOPER says it will be launching an appeal after its bid for 200 homes was rejected...and has submitted a second planning application.

City and Country wanted to build up to 201 homes on land at Brierley Paddocks in West Mersea.

The outline application also included commercial buildings and open space.

The developers said a piece of land could be sold and used to build a doctor’s surgery.

But the bid proved controversial in the community amid fears Mersea’s infrastructure would struggle to cope.

Now Colchester Council has rejected the bid. The council said the plans fell outside the settlement boundary for West Mersea and there was no legal agreement to provide affordable homes or make contributions to education and the NHS.

Officers also said while the site was allocated for housing in the local plan, the bid was for twice the number of homes suggested.

It said the bid was “considered to be premature given the level of objection, the significant scale and conflict with emerging policies”.

Colchester Council decided to refuse the development on the grounds of design saying a proposed entrance road would bring a significant increase in traffic to Seaview Avenue and said it would be used as “a car compliant cut-through”.

A spokesman for island campaign group Stop350 said: “Many residents will be very pleased the decision has been taken to reject the planning application.

“It is an extremely premature application and would have led to a considerable number of houses being crammed on our beautiful island. However, we don’t expect that it will be left there and we have been informed the applicants are already considering another counter application for 100 homes.”

The spokesman said the group would “strenuously oppose” future applications.

A spokesman for City & Country said: “Naturally, we are disappointed by this decision, particularly as there is an accepted requirement to boost housing supply in the borough.

“The land has been allocated for development in the council’s emerging local plan and we believe it is suitable and capable of accommodating residential development and associated community uses.

“As a result of this, we will be preparing an appeal.

“Alongside this appeal, we have also submitted a revised planning application which is awaiting validation from the council.”

A decision on 97 homes in West Bergholt by a planning inspector found the council did not have a five year supply of housing.