BLUEPRINTS for more than 200 homes on a former caravan park in Walton have finally been given the green light.

Taylor Wimpey’s plans for 216 homes at the former Martello Caravan Park, in KirbyRoad, were approved by Tendring Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

The developer was sent back to the drawing board after proposals for 237 homes were turned down in October.

A decision was postponed again in January after Natural England asked for more time to consider if it would make an objection because the site backs on to the Walton Backwaters – a site of special scientific interest.

But the agency decided not to object to the revised application, which also won over Frinton and Walton Town Council, which had objected to the original plans.

Taylor Wimpey’s Steve Wood told the planning committee the scheme would bring “significant regeneration benefits” for Walton and would deliver “a quality scheme in keeping with the special location”.

But Walton resident Richard Naylor said the amendments were minor and did not address the previous reasons for refusal.

He claimed the plans would lead to the loss of a valuable holiday facility.

Planners said the developer had addressed previous concerns and that homes facing the Walton Backwaters were now better designed.

Councillor Zoe Fairley said she had concerns over the high density of housing at the site, but officers said it had “come down quite a bit” from the original application and was now acceptable.

The original plans for as many as 250 homes had proved controversial with residents, councillors and members of Frinton and Walton Yacht Club Trust all opposing them.

Yacht club director William Gibbon said the original “unimaginative” plans were “totally lacking in architectural merit” and were not suitable for the “unique and valuable” natural environment of the Walton Backwaters”.

The revised plans were unanimously approved.