Council Local Plan E-MAIL NEWSLETTER

Newsletter 4 – February 2015

No decision on the new Local Plan until after the 2015 local elections

On 27th November 2014, the Council’s Local Plan Committee considered a number of reports prepared by

Planning Officers including:

1) an update on major new ‘garden suburbs’ and ‘strategic employment sites’ being suggested for the Colchester Fringe, Weeley, Clacton, Harwich and Horsley Cross (click here to read the Planning TendringOfficer’s District report) Council; [Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]

2) an initial assessment of alternative development proposals being promoted by landowners, developers and other interested parties in Clacton, /Hare Green, Little Clacton, Kirby Cross, Alresford, and Mistley (click here to read the Planning Officer’s report); and

3) a series of planning policies that will promote the protection of Tendring’s natural and historic environment (click here to read the Planning Officer’s report). The Committee also considered changes to the timetable for preparing the Local Plan given the high level of public interest, the additional time needed to consider residents’ concerns and alternative development proposals and the local elections proposed for May 2015 which may or may not result in changes to the Committee’s membership. The Committee accordingly agreed that any decision to approve the content of the new Local Plan for public consultation will not take place until after the local elections. The Planning Officer’s report on changes to the Local Plan timetable can be viewed by clicking here.

The full reports and minutes from the 27th November 2014 meeting can be viewed by clicking here (to open these links, some users may have to press ‘ctrl’ and click).

680-name petition lodged against Local Green Gap policy to stay Weeley development plans On the 27th November 2014 meeting, Councillors were At the Local Plan Committee’s meeting on asked to consider whether or not the new Local Plan 27th November 2014, the Council’s should continue to designate ‘Local Green Gaps’ to Planning Policy Manager reported that a prevent towns and villages merging together and losing petition signed by 680 residents, collected their individual character. This was in response to the by Weeley Parish Council, had been latest government planning policy which advises against submitted in objection to the suggested the unnecessary protection of large areas of land when development of a garden village including more will be needed for housing development to meet the 1,100 new homes at Weeley. Weeley needs of the growing population. Parish Council has since collected further Councillors confirmed their continued support for Local names and the petition is growing. Green Gaps to be shown in the new plan. Colchester Borough Council publishes options for consultation

Neighbouring Colchester Borough Council is, like Tendring, also in the process of preparing a new Local Plan. On 16th January 2015, it published, for six weeks consultation, a document entitled ‘Local Plan Issues and Options’ and is inviting interested parties to comment of a range of planning matters including possible ‘options’ for where the majority of new development should go, up to 2032.

Three options have been suggested, two of which will involve development crossing the Colchester/Tendring border with the potential for around 6,000 homes (split equally between Colchester and Tendring) along with new job opportunities and investment in new infrastructure including transport, utilities schools and open space. Based on latest evidence of housing need, Colchester may need to plan for an addition 10,000 homes in total over and above what is already included in their current Local Plan (which runs to 2023) – an increase from a rate of 830 homes a year to nearer 1,000 a year.

Option 1 involves the development of a sustainable new settlement to the east of Colchester (crossing into Tendring district) and a potentially larger settlement to the west of Colchester, crossing into Braintree district in the Marks Tey area.

Option 2 involves only the development of one large new settlement to the west of Colchester with no development extending into Tendring.

Option 3 involves the development of a new settlement extending into Tendring as well as development extending north of Colchester, crossing the A12.

Each option includes an ‘A’ and ‘B’ variation with ‘A’ involving no developments in Colchester’s rural settlements, and ‘B’ allowing for some proportionate growth in those areas.

To view the consultation document and to make comments directly, please follow this link to Colchester Borough Council’s website. The deadline for comments is 5.00pm on Friday 27th February 2015.

At the next meeting of the Tendring Local Plan Committee on 17th February 2015, Councillors will consider and agree Tendring District Council’s formal response to the Colchester Borough Council consultation exercise. TDC Planning Officers will be suggesting, in line with previous reports to the Committee, that the Council supports the principle of development crossing the Colchester/Tendring boundary as a means of delivering housing and economic growth and that both Councils should work together, in line with the legal duty to cooperate, to draw up the plans in more detail.

Next meeting Tuesday 17th February 2015

The next meeting of the Tendring Local Plan Committee will be at 6.00pm on Tuesday 17th February 2015 at the Princes Theatre, Clacton Town Hall.

The only report for consideration will be Tendring District Council’s response to Colchester Borough Council’s consultation document (see item above).

Contact Us:-

Telephone Number: 01255 686177 Gary Guiver Planning Policy Manager E-mail: [email protected] Tendring District Council

Tendring District Council, Thorpe Road, Weeley, Clacton-on-Sea, CO16 9AJ.