A proposed housing development in Colchester is being opposed by the town's Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell because it is on the site of a significant archaeological find.
Developers Taylor Wimpey are planning to construct 2,500 homes at the site of the former British Army barracks in the town, Property Week reports.
But Mr Russell is opposing the plan because of the discovery when the barracks were demolished of a Roman Chariot racing track, the only one of its kind in the UK.
He told the magazine the find was "the most important archaeological discovery for 50 years" and is "of national and international significance".
The developers said they had negotiated the building deal with bodies such as English Heritage.
Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain and has a number of visible Roman features.
These include the foundations of the Temple of Claudius under the Norman castle, an ampitheatre and the town walls, which were built to prevent a repeat of the sacking of the town that occurred at the hands of the Iceni during Queen Boudica's revolt.
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