DEVELOPERS are hosting a third public exhibition for plans to transform an animal sanctuary and petting zoo into a community park with up to 78 new homes.

Montague Asset Management, which has put foward the planning application for land at Mistley Place Park in partnership with Woodbridge Estate and Land, will have the final designs for the development on display on Monday.

The exhibition will be held at the Mistley Place Park Café on New Road from 4pm to 7pm.

A spokesman for the company, said: “We know that our application has created a lot of questions among local residents and we would like to give people a further opportunity to discuss the scheme with us.

“We welcome everyone’s views and hope that the local residents come and discuss their concerns with us.

"Our aim is to produce a Community Park that can be an asset for the future, but it will only go ahead with community support.

"The residential area will be carefully integrated to complement the local surroundings and will provide the essential funding to enable the Community Park facility to become a reality.”

The restoration of the 22 acre Mistley Place Park includes a new café/cultural centre and car park, dredging and regrading of the existing lake as well as improvements to the woodland and meadows.

The outline planning application put to Tendring Council also includes building up to 78 homes on a five acre slice of the land.

Plans can be viewed at www.mistleyplaceparkrestoration.com