A DECISION on controversial plans for more than 200 homes on Mersea has been delayed to allow a developer the chance to deal with "unresolved issues".

City & County wants to build 201 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 the bid has proved controversial among the community.

The site is allocated for housing in the Colchester Council’s Local Plan, but experts have warned the proposed development is too big and Mersea’s infrastructure will struggle to cope.

The North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group also said the island’s surgery could not cope with the projected increase in residents and warned there are bigger problems due to Mersea’s unusual constraints.

A decision on the bid has now been delayed to allow City & County to resolve some issues.

A notice said: "Since the application was received by the local planning authority it has become apparent that there are unresolved issues that will take longer time than the usual statutory time period for determining applications."

Typically large applications are determined within 13 weeks, meaning the plans should have been decided last month.

An extension of time agreement has been signed and the application will now be determined before the end of May.

The notice added: "This agreement is made on the basis that the applicants would like additional time to provide further archaeological information, a shadow HRA and await the response from the Highways authority.

"They will also be able to consider the issues of the impact on amenity from the new access point on Seaview Avenue that has been raised by the council."

The decision has been called in and will be decided by the council's planning committee.