Publication Draft The Publication Draft stage of the Colchester Borough Local Plan 2017 – 2033 June 2017 CONTENTS 1. 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 SECTION TWO - LOCAL PLAN FOR COLCHESTER ............................................. 11 3. Vision and Objectives for Section Two .............................................................. 13 Local Characteristics and Key Issues for Colchester ............................................ 13 Vision: Colchester in 2033 .................................................................................... 14 Objectives ............................................................................................................. 15 4. Sustainable Growth Policies ............................................................................. 17 The Spatial Strategy ............................................................................................. 17 Growth Locations .................................................................................................. 17 Urban Area of Colchester .................................................................................. 17 Sustainable Settlements ................................................................................... 19 Other Villages.................................................................................................... 20 Countryside ....................................................................................................... 20 Housing Delivery................................................................................................... 22 Economic Delivery Policies ................................................................................... 26 Strategic Economic Areas ................................................................................. 27 Garden Communities Strategic Allocations ....................................................... 28 Local Economic Areas ...................................................................................... 30 RETAILING ....................................................................................................... 32 Centres Hierarchy ............................................................................................. 32 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 41 Neighbourhood Plans ........................................................................................... 44 5. Environmental Assets Policies .......................................................................... 46 Environment ......................................................................................................... 46 Coastal Areas ....................................................................................................... 49 Green Infrastructure .............................................................................................. 52 Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty .............................................. 54 Pollution and Contaminated Land ......................................................................... 56 Climate Change Policy ......................................................................................... 58 6. Place Policies .................................................................................................... 62 Colchester ............................................................................................................ 63 Central Colchester ............................................................................................ 63 North Colchester ............................................................................................... 70 South Colchester ............................................................................................... 78 East Colchester ................................................................................................. 83 West Colchester ................................................................................................ 94 Sustainable Settlements ..................................................................................... 107 Abberton and Langenhoe ................................................................................ 107 Boxted ............................................................................................................. 108 Chappel and Wakes Colne ............................................................................. 109 Copford and Copford Green ............................................................................ 110 Dedham .......................................................................................................... 112 Fordham .......................................................................................................... 114 Great Horkesley .............................................................................................. 115 Great Tey ........................................................................................................ 117 Langham ......................................................................................................... 118 Layer de la Haye ............................................................................................. 120 Marks Tey ....................................................................................................... 121 Mersea Island.................................................................................................. 123 Rowhedge ....................................................................................................... 128 Tiptree ............................................................................................................. 129 West Bergholt.................................................................................................. 131 Wivenhoe ........................................................................................................ 132 Other Villages and Countryside .......................................................................... 134 7. Development Management Policies ................................................................ 138 Health and Wellbeing .......................................................................................... 138 Community Facilities ........................................................................................... 139 Education Provision ............................................................................................ 141 Sports Provision.................................................................................................. 142 Tourism, Leisure, Culture and Heritage .............................................................. 144 Economic Development in Rural Areas and the Countryside ............................. 145 Agricultural Development and Diversification ..................................................... 148 Affordable Housing ............................................................................................. 150 Development Density .......................................................................................... 152 Housing Diversity ................................................................................................ 153 Gypsies, Travellers, and Travelling Showpeople ................................................ 156 Housing Standards ............................................................................................. 157 Domestic Development: Residential alterations, extensions, conversions and replacement dwellings ........................................................................................ 158 Rural Workers Housing ....................................................................................... 162 Design and Amenity ............................................................................................ 164