A HUGE development could see 500 new homes built on land between Mistley and Lawford.

Property specialists Strutt and Parker outlined their early proposals for farmland between Long Road, Lawford and Clacton Road, Mistley, alongside housebuilders City and Country at an exhibition at Ogilvie Hall on Tuesday.

The developers had five options for the site on offer for the public to comment on, which included plans for 220 homes at the lower end of the scale, and 500 at the highest.

Other variables included whether remaining land should be kept for farming, used as open space or for commercial properties.

But residents at the exhibition said they were worried the infrastructure of the two villages would be unable to cope with more people, especially combined with the newly-approved Summer’s Park estate off Cox’s Hill by Rose Builders.

Henry Warner, of Milton Road, Lawford, said: “All of these schemes for housing are too much too soon.

“The infrastructure cannot cope now, especially the roads.

“There are so many people trying to travel to Ipswich or to the railway station every day at 8.20am that there is a backlog all up Cox’s Hill."

Strutt and Parker spokesman Richard Clews said the group could work with other developers to help ease residents concern about the roads.

“There are concerns around increased traffic especially around the railway bridge, school places and the quality of the homes.

“If there were more houses, then we could look to provide improvements to those issues, along with other developers in the area.”

Mr Clews added: “People have been concerned commercial space, but it could be office buildings or professional services.

“Our preferred number of homes is around 300 and we are very conscious of the desire to keep the gap between Lawford and Mistley.”