Council urged to take Middlewick Ranges out of Colchester local plan

The letter argued the proposal for housing is "fundamentally and fatally flawed"

More than a dozen experts have spoken out against building homes on the "jewel in Colchester's ecological crown".

Environmentalists wrote to Colchester City Council and urged them to reconsider listing Middlewick Ranges as a possible site for new homes in Essex.

The letter said the land, owned by the Ministry of Defence, had a very high level of ecological value.

The council commissioned independent ecological surveys in response.

A spokesperson added: "We are committed to transparency and will provide a further update once all necessary information is available."

The council's local plan outlines where 14,720 homes could be built in the borough by 2033.

In 2022, it said that 1,000 homes could be built on Middlewick Ranges, which was later put up for sale by the government in November 2023.

Campaigners said people relied on "this beautiful green resource in the heart of South Colchester for physical and mental health"

The lengthy letter signed by 17 experts in natural history, ecology, conservation and environmental legislation said building posed "grave ecological risks" .

They highlighted the area's biodiversity and claimed the land was home to ancient acid grassland and rare invertebrates.

Campaigners condemned the inclusion of the site in the local plan and said the idea was "fundamentally and fatally flawed".

It urged the council to reverse the proposals.

Criticism was also given to an ecological survey carried out by Stantec, the Ministry of Defence's ecological consultant.

Campaigners alleged the survey failed to include species of invertebrate and misidentified grassland.

A Stantec spokesperson said the firm would "seek to discuss the points raised with Colchester City Council, should they request a response from the DIO [defence infrastructure organisation] and once the appropriate teams have fully reviewed the letter".