COMMUNITY groups have called on a developer to include proposals for a medical centre in its plans for 201 new houses.

City and Country wants to build the homes on land at Brierley Paddocks in West Mersea.

The outline application also includes commercial buildings and open space.

The developers have said a piece of land could be sold and used to build a doctor’s surgery.

But West Mersea Town Council and campaigners Stop350 say a medical centre should be built as part of the proposals.

It comes after documents on the payments the developer would make towards schooling, the NHS and community space were submitted.

In a letter to Colchester Council’s planning team, the town council said it “strenuously reiterate its objections”.

It said: “West Mersea Town Council cannot endorse or excuse the absence of a medical centre within the developers proposals, since this an urgent community requirement.

“We consider current proposals in this regard wholly inadequate and to the detriment of the community.

“Further, West Mersea Town Council recognises an urgent need for affordable community housing.

“Accordingly, the council believes that conditional on any permissions should be the creation of a housing trust, focused on provision of starter homes in adequate numbers, which would be for the benefit of local families and the wider West Mersea community.”

Stop350 described the documents as a “shopping list” of community benefits.

It added: “However, the list does not cover the most important requirement for the village and surrounding area, a new medical centre site as a community benefit.

“This was committed to by the developer at their consultation at the end of last year but seems to have disappeared from the list as has the gifted starter homes which were also a requirement of the neighbourhood plan group.”

A spokesman for City and Country said: “Throughout this engagement we have been clear that as part of our plans we have allocated a parcel of land for use as a surgery, available at market rate should a buyer be found.

“At no stage have we committed to bringing forward a surgery ourselves.

“Should the application be approved, we have committed to a range of financial contributions to meet future needs within the area, in line with the council’s requests.”