PLANS to build 118 homes in a Colchester village have been labelled “farcical, speculative” and “unwanted”.

Gladman Developments Ltd has lodged plans to build the homes on land off Wick Lane, in Ardleigh, filling a site the size of 18 football pitches.

As well as strong opposition from residents, education authority Essex County Council, and NHS England, which funds Ardleigh Surgery, have both objected to the plans.

The organisations say the village facilities are full and overflowing already and cannot take on extra patients or pupils.

Ian Blackford, who is spearheading a residents’ campaign against the plans, said: “The plans are farcical, speculative and unwanted.

“If we are not careful, this is going to get planning permission.

“These developments are going to eat up all our green space.”

The 44-year-old businessman, who lives in Colchester Road, added: “This is the latest in a line of speculative developments in Tendring and, unfortunately, they have picked on Ardleigh.

“The land is outside of the village envelope and it is the highest grade of agricultural land.”

Tendring Council does not have an approved local plan and planning bosses have admitted it leaves the district open to speculative development.

Several large applications have been submitted within the district in recent months.

There are also discussions about a possible garden village with thousands of homes taking place.

A report from NHS England, objecting to this development, states: “The proposed development is likely to have an impact on the services of one main GP practice and its branch surgery operating within the vicinity of the application site.

“The GP practice does not have capacity for the additional growth resulting from the development.”

At the moment the surgery is over capacity by about 50 per cent.

A report from Essex County Council added: “The school has a capacity of 105 places, of which 19 places are in temporary accommodation.

“The school is currently operating at capacity and it is forecast to do so for the foreseeable future.

“The school’s current accommodation, which comprises of three permanent classbases and one temporary classbase, could not accommodate the additional pupils that we envisage would be produced by an application for 118 homes.”

The education authority expects the 118 homes to create 35 extra primary pupils.

A public meeting on the plans will be held on Thursday at Ardleigh Village Hall.

It begins at 7.30pm.