Roman circus site homes rejected

Plans to build more than 200 homes on a site that partially sits on the remains of a 2,000-year-old chariot track have been refused after councillors said "we can do better".

The plans for the former Army Base Repair Organisation site, in Colchester, Essex, had previously been put on hold because of concerns about affordable housing and the impact the homes could have on the historic Roman circus.

"Going through the four hours of discussions at the last meeting, every single person has said we can do so much better than this," Conservative councillor Sue Lissimore told Colchester City Council's planning committee.

Planning officer Nadine Calder warned councillors against being "overambitious".

"There is a limit to what can be done, and we believe what has been put forward can be done in a nice way," she said at a meeting on Thursday.

Ten out of 11 councillors voted to reject the proposal because of concerns about the impact it could have on the appearance and character of the historic site.

Labour councillor Julie Young, who did not vote, said: "The weight of this decision bears very heavy on us all.

"I think there's significant concerns around the table about whether this is the best we can get."

The plans included an extension to a visitor centre close to the remains of the quarter-mile (400m) track which were discovered in 2004.

Simon Cairns, the council's joint head of planning, said it would have provided a "brand new and attractive entrance and modern facilities which would be a significant improvement".

A separate application to demolish some buildings at the site in Flagstaff Road was approved by the council on Thursday.

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