PLANS have been unveiled to build 164 homes off a busy road in Colchester.

Persimmon Homes has submitted a scoping opinion request to Colchester Council for land south of Berechurch Hall Road.

This means the developer is asking the council whether it would require an environmental impact assessment to be submitted in conjunction with an imminent planning application for the site.

The development will be a mix of one and two-bed apartments, along with two, three and four-bedroom houses.

A report states: “The site is surrounded on two sides by existing residential use of both older and more recent housing development.

“Although the surrounding residential use is predominant, there are also several retail uses as well as services such as a nursery, junior and primary schools.

“Notwithstanding this the surrounding area could not be seen as anything other than a residential area and, therefore, the proposals reflect this.”

As well as the homes, open space and car parking will be created for new residents if the plans are approved.

Alterations would be made to the existing access point to the land and a new emergency access would be created for use by pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles on to Berechurch Hall Road.

The report adds: “Measures will be used to encourage sustainable journeys to and from the site. This will include ensuring good physical connectivity to Berechurch Hall Road.

“Given this, the potential impact on the surrounding highways will be reduced.”

The site, which is farmland, is allocated for 150 homes in Colchester Council’s Local Plan. Construction could begin as early as June with works expected to take 30 months.

Colchester Council will have the final say.