UNPOPULAR plans to build 119 new flats off one of Colchester’s most polluted streets have been approved.

Inland Homes’ plans to build 104 two-bed and 15 one-bed apartments across five blocks off Brook Street were rubbed stamped by the planning committee at a meeting on Thursday.

The developer received outline permission to build 58 flats on the site in 2016.

But Michael Smith, representing the developer, told the meeting the plans had been revised as the old scheme was financially unviable.

He said: “The site is in the town centre and a sustainable location enjoying easy access on foot, by cycle or by public transport to the services and facilities of Colchester.

“It is a high quality scheme which respects the area in which it is proposed.”

Resident Jonathan Baldwin said 580 people had signed a petition against the plans.

He said: “I feel this is far greater than the number of people who will benefit from this development.

“The original proposal for 58 dwellings was, in my view, far more appropriate. The developer’s argument this is unviable is motivated by profit and not a justification for overdevelopment.”

Ward councillor Theresa Higgins (New Town, Lib Dem) added: “The request was for 20 per cent affordable homes.

“The result is one unit, out of 119, which is going to be built off-site.”

Green Party councillor Mark Goacher (Castle) said stats often showed Brook Street was the most polluted street in the town.

Following the decision he said: “The decision is a perverse one which pays scant regard to the high level of traffic pollution in lower Brook Street and scant regard for the over 500 nearby residents who signed a petition against this.

"It is perverse because the number of dwellings is double the number given outline planning permission in 2016, which was 58.

"Developers regularly ‘try it on’ by increasing these numbers and Councils are well within their rights to stop them getting away with this, yet in this case failed to do so.

“It involves building over badger sets, subject to a licence from Natural England, a government funded body which I have little faith in.

“Another habitat lost when we should be treasuring our urban wildlife”