A 14-ACRE community park is being used as a “dangling carrot” for plans to build 75 homes in a village, it has been claimed.

An exhibition of designs for wildflower meadows, cyclepaths and footpaths, a bandstand, new cafe and picnic area for Mistley Place Park was held on Friday.

The site, currently home to a petting zoo, will be sold to Montague Asset Management, providing it secures planning permission to build on the land.

Under the plans, 14-and-a-half of the 22 acres will be used for the new community park, while the rest will be turned into 75 homes.

Susan Halliday, of Rigby Avenue, Mistley, said: “It sounds good on paper, but the amount of housing is a concern for a small area.

“It seems to be a bit like a carrot dangling – if they don’t get permission, they will just walk away.”

Peter Gibbs, of Erskine Road, Mistley, added: “We are concerned about what impact it is going to have on local facilities.

“It is inevitable there will be development, however with 75 houses you’re looking at 75 cars as well, and traffic is already a concern.”

To make way for the new facilities, the existing Dormy House, cafe, bungalow and car park would be demolished.

A new cafe would be built and two or three of the houses would be gifted to the parish council or a trust.

Stephen Clark, director of Montague Asset Management, has insisted that development would only go ahead with the public’s full support.

He said: “We are very much looking at what people want – I feel comfortable it has got a lot of benefits for everyone.

“More and more people are realising they’re going to get the benefit of the park. What we want to do is get feedback from the public.

“There is no timescale yet. If everyone is on board, we will look to go ahead before Christmas; if not, then we will back away.

“People are hesitant, but reassured by what we’re doing.

“There are people saying the area is taking too many houses – this is giving something back. In comparison with other projects, we are giving a lot back.”

Ecologist Vicky Rowe has been working with the developer on how the natural amenities of the area are to be preserved.

She said: “I think in terms of what they’re proposing at the moment it will improve the quality of the land.

“There will even be a number of invasive species, which will be removed.

“When you think who else can use the park, there will be benefits for many.

“Schools are desperately in need of a local resource like this.”