MANNINGTREE has been branded a concrete jungle with town councillors saying “enough is enough” to plans to build hundreds of homes in the area by 2032.

Manningtree town councillors have hit out at the latest options for where to build in the district, fearing the desirability of the area could mean more homes.

A document released by Tendring Council sets out possibilities for where 9,200 homes could be built – and proposes four options for another 800 homes, including the idea of building them around the district's towns.

For the Manningtree area, including Lawford and Mistley, it earmarked a total of 800 new homes – made up of developments that already have planning permission, as well as others on the waterworks site and greenfield land.

But Manningtree councillor Justin Charlesworth said: “It is already a concrete jungle.

“I want to know if there is any way of saying that this is sufficient and enough is enough."

Mayor Mark Morsley said: “There is an issue around where they want to build in these proposals.

“There’s acres of land in Dovercourt that won’t get used because no one wants to buy it.

“All of this area is a desirable.

Bradfield is a prime example – Bradfield alone has seen a large increase in development recently.

“The amount in terms of the rest of Tendring that is being thrust on this area is significant.”

Deputy mayor Lee Lay-Flurrie warned developers and the council could be overlooking positive changes that could see house prices in Harwich and Dovercourt increase in the coming years.

“Harwich and Dovercourt will come on leaps and bounds once the Mayflower Project is complete – it will lift the area,” she said.

“Dismissing Harwich and Dovercourt may backfire on them at some point.”

Public exhibitions have been taking place around the district over the past month to assess the public opinion on the new local plan.

To view the Issues and Consultation document in full, go to tendringdc.gov.uk/planning/loc al-plans-and-policies