Publication Draft The Publication Draft stage of the Colchester Borough Local Plan 2017 – 2033 June 2017 CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Local Plan: The Process ......................................................................................... 1 National planning guidance ................................................................................. 1 County Level Plans ............................................................................................. 2 Borough Strategies ............................................................................................. 3 Duty to Co-operate .............................................................................................. 3 Evidence Base .................................................................................................... 4 Sustainability Appraisal ....................................................................................... 4 Habitat Regulations Assessment ........................................................................ 5 Local Plan: Structure of the Plan and other related documents .............................. 5 Other Colchester Planning Documents ................................................................... 6 How to respond....................................................................................................... 7 What Happens Next? .............................................................................................. 8 SECTION ONE: SHARED STRATEGIC PLAN ......................................................... 9 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 11 The Need for a Strategic Approach ...................................................................... 11 Spatial Portrait ...................................................................................................... 13 Key Issues: Opportunities and Challenges ........................................................... 14 Vision for the Strategic Area ................................................................................. 15 Vision for North Essex ....................................................................................... 15 Strategic Objectives .............................................................................................. 16 Strategic Issues and Policies ................................................................................ 17 2. Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development ........................................ 18 3. Spatial Strategy ................................................................................................. 19 4. Meeting the Need for New Homes .................................................................... 21 5. Providing for Employment ................................................................................. 23 6. Infrastructure and Connectivity.......................................................................... 26 Achieving Sustainable Transport .......................................................................... 29 Sustainable travel & major new developments ..................................................... 29 Garden Communities ............................................................................................ 30 7. Creating Quality Places ..................................................................................... 34 8. Cross Boundary Garden Communities .............................................................. 36 9. Delivery, Implementation and Monitoring Arrangements ................................... 55 10. Section One Maps ......................................................................................... 57 10.1 Key Diagram ............................................................................................ 57 SECTION TWO - LOCAL PLAN FOR COLCHESTER ............................................ 58 11. Vision and Objectives for Section Two .......................................................... 60 Local Characteristics and Key Issues for Colchester ............................................ 60 Vision: Colchester in 2033 .................................................................................... 61 Objectives ............................................................................................................. 62 12. Sustainable Growth Policies .......................................................................... 64 The Spatial Strategy ............................................................................................. 64 Growth Locations .................................................................................................. 64 Urban Area of Colchester .................................................................................. 64 Sustainable Settlements ................................................................................... 66 Other Villages.................................................................................................... 67 Countryside ....................................................................................................... 67 Housing Delivery................................................................................................... 69 Economic Delivery Policies ................................................................................... 73 Strategic Economic Areas ................................................................................. 74 Garden Communities Strategic Allocations ....................................................... 75 Local Economic Areas ...................................................................................... 77 RETAILING ....................................................................................................... 79 Centres Hierarchy ............................................................................................. 79 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 88 Neighbourhood Plans ........................................................................................... 91 13. Environmental Assets Policies....................................................................... 93 Environment ......................................................................................................... 93 Coastal Areas ....................................................................................................... 96 Green Infrastructure .............................................................................................. 99 Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ............................................ 101 Pollution and Contaminated Land ....................................................................... 103 Climate Change Policy ....................................................................................... 105 14. Place Policies .............................................................................................. 109 Colchester .......................................................................................................... 110 Central Colchester .......................................................................................... 110 North Colchester ............................................................................................. 117 South Colchester ............................................................................................. 125 East Colchester ............................................................................................... 130 West Colchester .............................................................................................. 141 Sustainable Settlements ..................................................................................... 154 Abberton and Langenhoe ................................................................................ 154 Boxted ............................................................................................................. 155 Chappel and Wakes Colne ............................................................................. 156 Copford and Copford Green ............................................................................ 157 Dedham .......................................................................................................... 159 Fordham .......................................................................................................... 161 Great Horkesley .............................................................................................. 162 Great Tey ........................................................................................................ 164 Langham ......................................................................................................... 166 Layer de la Haye ............................................................................................. 167 Marks Tey ....................................................................................................... 169 Mersea Island.................................................................................................. 170 Rowhedge ....................................................................................................... 175 Tiptree