CONSTRUCTION has started on a controversial new 37-home estate in Frinton.

The development, on a former reservoir site in Wittonwood Road, will include a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes.

Residents battled against the scheme as it went through the planning stages.

They argued that 37 homes would be too many for the site, causing it to be overcrowded.

Concerns were also raised over the layout and the lack of infrastructure to cope with a development of that size within Frinton.

Traffic was another point of contention, while councillors feared current Wittonwood Road residents would face a nightmare through the construction phase, predicting antisocial parking by workers around the site entrance.

But developer Persimmon Homes was eventually granted full approval and workers have now moved onto the site.

The homes are already available to buy before a brick has been laid.

Norman Sharpe, sales director of Persimmon Homes Essex, said: “It’s always exciting to see the construction staff move on to site and start building beautiful new homes.

“We are currently selling off plan and, as expected, we’ve had lots of interested people visiting the site.”

The building site is thought to be the last area for major development within the Frinton gates