HUNDREDS of residents attended the unveiling of major plans to transform Harwich's Navyard into a housing development.

About 400 people came to a public exhibition held in the 1912 Centre and Bunkhouse, in Cow Lane, last weekend to hear about a multi-million pound proposal to regenerate the site.

The proposal would see the Navyard site turned into space for 300 homes as well as employment space, food outlets and a market square.

A new promenade would also be created.

Mann Lines, which currently operates from the site, will be relocating if the proposal is approved by Tendring Council.

Bill Binks, chief executive officer, of Mann Lines, said the exhibition went well and there was a large turnout of residents.

He said: "We had a lot of questions about a wide range of things during the exhibition and I think the over all impression was that everyone was generally supportive about the idea.

"There were some exceptions where people did have concerns and we left questionnaires for people to complete.

"The main concerns raised during the exhibition were about the town having a lack of infrastructure, but I think this is a national problem and needs a nation-wide solution."

But he said the development is being put forward in a bid to help regenerate Harwich and let more people live and work in the area.

Mann Lines has been working on the proposal for the past year and the exhibition was part of a pre-application process before the application is submitted to Tendring Council's planning website.

Mr Binks added: "We will be reviewing all the responses from the questionnaire and making modifications to our plans where can could improve them and we will be submitting a new planning application in the new year."

Harwich and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin tweeted about the proposal.

He said: "Spent the morning hearing feedback from Harwich people at the Navyard exhibition for a proposed housing development.

"People want to compare this with alternatives. And Harwich needs a yacht marina."