Colchester Submission Draft Local Plan Regulation 19 Consultation 2026

Policy CS1: Retention of Community Facilities Comment

The Council will seek the retention of all existing community and social infrastructure and will support proposals for such uses where they meet, or will meet, an identified local need.

Any proposal that would result in the loss of a site or building currently or last used for, or allocated for, the provision of community or social infrastructure including community facilities, services, leisure or cultural activities that benefit the community, will only be supported in cases where the Council is satisfied that:

1. An alternative, equivalent community facility to meet local needs and serve existing and future communities is, or will be, provided in an equally or more accessible location; or
2. It has been proven to the satisfaction of the Council that there is no longer a proven need for the community facility; and
3. It has been proven tothe satisfaction of the Council based on written evidence including marketing, submitted with the planning application, that it would not be economically viable and that there is no interest to retain the site/building for the existing or an alternative community use either by the current occupier or by any alternative occupier.

Where healthcare facilities are formally declared surplus to the operational healthcare requirements of the NHS or identified as part of a published estates strategy or service transformation plan, the requirements listed under (a) to (c) above will not apply.

To satisfy the requirements for (b) and (c) above, the applicant must provide:

1. evidence that it has been offered on the open market as a whole (parts having not been identified for separate sale) and at a realistic market value, reflective of the current use. This should be for a period of not less than six months by a competent agent;
2. Evidence should include sales literature, details of approaches, and details of offers; and
3. Evidence that the local community has been notified in writing of the intention to close the facility and has not, within a period of six months come forward with a realistic proposal to assume operation of the facility, including its proposals to finance and operate the facility.

Applicants proposing to redevelop or convert social and community facilities serving local communities will be expected to consult with those communities about the relative importance of the facilities which could be lost and submit evidence of that engagement with a planning application. This should also show evidence of consideration as to whether remaining community facilities could satisfactorily meet the needs of the local community, including any potential for combining or rationalising facilities where appropriate. This must be informed by the most up to date relevant evidence and include anticipated levels of population growth.

Policy CS2: Enhancement of and Provision for Community Facilities Comment

The provision and enhancement of community facilities and services will be supported where they contribute to the quality of community life and the maintenance of cohesive and sustainable communities.

Where necessary to mitigate the impacts of the development, the Council will require developers of residential schemes to provide or contribute towards the provision or enhancement of community facilities including education, to meet the needs of new and expanded communities and mitigate impacts on existing communities. These will be secured through the use of planning conditions and by Section 106 contributions or CIL/equivalent infrastructure levy. Contributions may be pooled towards larger community infrastructure projects to cumulatively contribute towards provision on a larger scale where a need has been identified.

Where existing facilities can be enhanced to serve new development, the Council will work with developers and local partners to audit existing facilities and deliver any requirements for such facilities to deliver comprehensive provision of services to serve these extended communities.

All new or enhanced community facilities must demonstrate safe, inclusive access by active and sustainable modes of travel in line with other relevant policies in this Plan.

Policy CS3: Education Provision Comment

Sites that are in private or public education use or have recently ceased to be used for education purposes will be protected for that use.

Where in whole or in part educational use of a site is demonstrated to be redundant (supported by appropriate evidence which confirms the facility or site is genuinely redundant) or proposals for alternative use are put forward, re-development of buildings and/or the grounds will be supported where the local community is and will remain adequately served by alternative provision and receipts from the sale of land will be invested in improved or expanded education facilities. Proposals should be considered in relation to the scale and quality of any replacement facility and its location and accessibility within the area.

Where the proposal involves a state funded school which is seeking to relocate into new buildings or sell assets to fund improved education this will be supported in principle subject to meeting other relevant requirements of this plan.

Proposals for alternative uses affecting sports facilities on education sites will also need to meet the requirements of Policy CS4.

The Council will respond positively to appropriate and well-designed applications regarding the creation of new school and education facilities. As expressed in the NPPF, the Council will use a presumption in favour of the development of schools and educational uses including early years and post 16 provision. The Council will engage in pre-application discussions with promoters to develop a collaborative approach to suitable applications. New facilities should be designed to support community use outside of school hours.

All new or enhanced community facilities must demonstrate safe, inclusive access by active and sustainable modes of travel in line with other relevant policies in this Plan.

Policy CS4: Sports Provision Comment

The Council will work proactively with the Colchester Sports Facilities Delivery Group, Sport England, Active Essex and national governing bodies with local (sports) clubs, private operators and community organisations, across the city, to plan positively for the protection, enhancement and delivery of a diverse network of indoor and outdoor sports and physical activity infrastructure, in order to support active lifestyles, increase participation and improve health and wellbeing. New developments will be expected to contribute to the enhancement of existing facilities or delivery of new facilities to meet the needs of new residents, where there is a proven need.

Protection of Sports Facilities and Infrastructure

All existing sports and recreation facilities, including indoor and outdoor sports facilities (such as playing fields, sports halls, swimming pools, artificial pitches, multi-use games areas, courts and specialist facilities), will be protected.

Development resulting in the loss of such facilities will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that one of the following criteria is met:

1. A carefully quantified and documented assessment has been undertaken which clearly demonstrates that the facility is surplus to requirements, having regard to current and future needs and its contribution to the quantity, quality and accessibility of provision to the satisfaction of Sport England and the Council;
2. The proposed development is for ancillary facilities supporting the principal use of the site as a playing field and does not affect the quantity and quality of playing pitches or otherwise adversely affect their use;
3. The lost provision would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility, in a suitable location and made available for use prior to the loss and commencement of development, with appropriate long-term management arrangements; or
4. The proposed development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the existing facility.

Enhancement and Growth of Sports Facilities and Infrastructure

The Council will proactively support the delivery of new and improved sports and physical activity infrastructure to meet identified needs and address deficiencies in provision, that should be equitably distributed and accessible across the city by:

1. Seeking to provide a wide range of formal and informal sports and physical activities, including traditional pitch sports and emerging and flexible activities (such as exercise studios, padel, and outdoor or informal exercise spaces) that are safe, inclusive and accessible; meeting the needs of all users including women and girls, disabled people and underrepresented groups;
2. Enhancing, modernising and intensifying existing facilities, including improved ancillary provision and use of all-weather or multi-functional surfaces where appropriate;
3. Supporting proposals from public, private, voluntary and community sector providers which expand access to sport and physical activity;
4. Addressing geographical deficiencies in provision, including areas with limited access to facilities or where future demand will increase as a result of growth;
5. The identification and delivery of new or enhanced facilities in areas of existing or projected deficiency, where justified by evidence;
6. Maximising the use of schools, community hubs and underutilised spaces to provide multi-functional sports and activity infrastructure;
7.  Integrating sports provision within new and existing communities, ensuring it is accessible by walking, cycling and public transport.

New Development Provision

All major residential development proposals must:

1. Assess the demand for new sports and recreation provision arising from the development, informed by the most up to date Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and Indoor and Built Facilities Strategy and any other relevant evidence, taking into account the planned growth;
2. Provide on-site sports and physical activity infrastructure where this is justified by the scale and nature of the development;
3. Where on-site provision is not appropriate, make proportionate financial contributions towards the enhancement or delivery of off-site facilities that are accessible to future residents. Discussions should take place with the Council to determine what should be provided and how it should be managed and maintained. All new sports facilities and pitches must have community use agreements in place and be supported by long-term management and maintenance arrangements to ensure sustainability;
4. Ensure provision is phased appropriately alongside the development to meet the needs of new communities.

Smaller scale developments will also be expected to contribute to the expansion or provision of sport facilities where existing provision cannot meet the increased demand arising from new additional residents.

Policy CS5: Tourism, Leisure, Arts, Culture and Heritage Comment

1. Development of new and extended visitor attractions, leisure, cultural and heritage facilities along with visitor accommodation (including hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation, self-catering accommodation, holiday lodges, static and touring caravans and camping sites) will be supported in suitable locations subject to meeting other policy requirements and minimising their impact on, and demonstrating how the development will make a positive contribution to neighbouring areas, respect the settings of heritage assets and incorporate biodiversity enhancements and wider environmental improvements, which complement mandatory BNG requirements, where appropriate. Proposals will be supported in locations consistent with the spatial strategy and settlement hierarchy, with preference given to sites within or adjacent to existing settlements or existing tourism and leisure facilities. Any new visitor attractions of a scale likely to generate significant visitor movements should be in line with the spatial strategy.
2.  Proposals for tourism, leisure, arts, culture and heritage facilities should be appropriate in scale and function to the surrounding area and existing uses in the immediate vicinity; be accessible by a choice of means of transport proportionate to the scale and location of the proposal and promote active travel; and not cause significant harm to the amenity of people living and working nearby.
3.  Proposals in the countryside should help to support existing communities and facilities. Proposals must be compatible with the landscape character of the surrounding area and avoid harm to the open nature of the countryside and biodiversity. Where accessibility is poor, proposals should be small scale and/or involve the change of use of existing buildings or small-scale extension to existing tourist facilities.

5. In locations where residential use would be inappropriate, developments of visitor accommodation, where supported, will be limited by condition or legal agreement to holiday use only and/or certain periods of the year in order to prevent permanent or long-term occupation.