AMBITIOUS plans for a £48million leisure development and almost 300 homes in Harwich have been given the green light.

Hardings Estates’ blueprints for its Harwich Valley complex, on land between the A120 and Stour Close, Dovercourt, were approved by Tendring Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

The development will see 297 homes built, along with a six-screen cinema, supermarket with petrol station, 63-bed hotel, pub, shops, restaurants, drive-thrus and business units.

Carl Minter, of Harding Estates, said the plans would directly create 1,000 new jobs.

Read the full story in Friday's Standard.