CONTROVERSIAL plans to build hundreds of homes which "will make life hell" for nearby residents in Dovercourt have been given the go-ahead - despite dozens of objections.

A proposal for a 300-home estate on land off Low road was approved by Tendring Council's planning committee at its meeting on Tuesday night.

The plans were approved following more than 70 objection letters being submitted to the council's planning website with campaigners highlighting fears over flooding, traffic pressures and a lack of infrastructure.

The plans for the new homes - which includes a children's play area and a new access off the road - first went before the council's planning committee in March.

At the march meeting councillors expressed concerns over various aspects of the scheme including access and employment.

Committee members further deferred the scheme in July after those matters had been resolved to allow additional concerns around speeding to be addressed.

But now, the developer has agreed to carry out a speed survey along Low Road after at least half of the homes are occupied and the two new accesses have been built.

A Tendring Council spokesman said: "If speeding is an issue, it will fund two speed activated warning signs in the area."

Following this agreement at Tuesday night's meeting the planning committee approved the scheme.

But campaigner Pam Morrison, who is a Harwich councillor, said the decision is not something residents should just accept.

She added: "It's not just the residents living nearby who will be affected by the new homes, it's the whole of Harwich and Dovercourt population the development will have an impact on.

"There is speeding already on Low Road, but adding more homes will just add to the speeding problem - not solve it.

"The new development is going to make life hell for people living along the road.

"None of the objections seem to be taken into account and it's incredibly frustrating."

The development has been agreed in outline form, and detailed matters such as the design and layout will need further approval from Tendring Council.