A COUNCIL boss has hit out at garden village naysayers, warning them: “If they’re not built, we’re leaving ourselves open to predatory development.”

Colchester Council leader Paul Smith was speaking after receiving confirmation Persimmon Homes has earmarked four fields off St John’s Road for a massive 700 home development.

The developer unveiled initial plans for the site, which borders the ancient Bullock Wood, early this month but would not commit to a firm number of homes.

However, Lib Dem Mr Smith and fellow St Anne’s and St John’s councillor Mike Hogg (Lib Dem) were called to a meeting this week, where the developers outlined the 700 home plans.

The farmland site, which was assessed for inclusion in Colchester Council’s draft local plan but was deemed unnecessary, is privately-owned at the moment.

Mr Smith added: “In this case, because of where we are with the garden villages, we are in a position where this would not be granted because we are able to show how our plans allow for development across the borough.

“If we didn’t have the garden villages plans, we wouldn’t just be able to stop this. If you look at it in numbers, if the garden villages were not planned that takes out 2,500, so quickly this would become a viable development, maybe you might have someone pressing the land at Longridge or submitting plans for more homes on the Middlewick Ranges where 1,000 homes are planned.”

“That is why the garden villages are so important.”

Colchester Council must meet a Government target of building about 920 homes a year.

A fresh Government consultation which has been sent to local authorities across the country shows if Colchester Council’s local plan is not ratified, that number could rise to 1,095.

A report by the house builder states the proposals would not affect the woods and would help deliver the local plan.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes Essex said: “The land at St John’s Road has been identified as a site suitable for housing as part of the Local Plan review process.

“As part of this process we seek to engage with the local community and its representatives to share our ideas, aspirations and benefits to the local community.

“A key part of this process has been the production of a site deliverability statement which sets out the key aspects of the scheme and how the site can be delivered, across a number of phases if necessary, alongside the provision of land for a new primary school, a new neighbourhood centre and public access to newly created public open space areas.

“As a responsible developer Persimmon Homes is committed to delivering much needed family housing and building strong communities.”