Developing a vision for Colchester

1. Colchester is strategically located in the Haven Gateway and well connected by mainline rail and major roads such as the A12, A120 and the A14 to London and other major centres and drivers of economic growth in the eastern region, such as London Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. Colchester’s two main railway stations, Colchester North and Colchester Town, enhance connectivity further. 2. Colchester benefits from a thriving economy that is one of the fastest growing in England, driven by strong retail, healthcare, education, manufacturing, technology and professional services sectors that offer diverse opportunities for the creation of jobs and businesses. Colchester’s economy is being boosted further by the development of Northern Gateway, the new regional sport, business and leisure destination to the north of the city, strategically located adjacent to Junction 28 of the A12 and Severalls Business Park. This opportunity area shows how Colchester’s potential can be harnessed by making best use of existing infrastructure and strategic transport connections. 3. Colchester is served by an extensive hinterland that contains a number of sustainable, well connected smaller settlements which complement the function of the city as the principle urban centre. These settlements contribute to the area’s economic and cultural diversity and vitality and provide significant opportunities for the delivery of further sustainable growth, supported by enhanced infrastructure. Langham is one of these settlements, located a short distance to the north of the city. It is connected to Colchester and its Northern Gateway growth area by the A12 and Langham Lane, which serves as a regular bus route and as part of the national cycle network.

Colchester’s strategic location in the East of England, within reach of London but far enough away to have its own identity and function as a regional centre, serving the economic, cultural and service needs of its own hinterland, means it is well placed to continue its trajectory as one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. Colchester has an important role to play in accommodating growth to address the need and demand for new homes, jobs and infrastructure in the region. There are few centres better placed to do so, due to the city’s excellent transport connections, thriving economy and availability of potential locations for growth. The adopted Local Plan identifies the urban area of Colchester as the most sustainable location for growth, given its high level of accessibility and concentration of housing, jobs and services. Further opportunities for growth in and on the edge of Colchester are limited, however, due to the availability of land and physical constraints and it is increasingly important to think creatively about where future development should be accommodated. The Council has already commenced this process through the allocation of the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community and the expansion of Colchester’s Northern Gateway, facilitated by the creation of Junction 28 of the A12. The availability of connections to the A12, the growth of the Northern Gateway as a business, sport and leisure destination and the availability of relatively unconstrained land in the near vicinity mean that continued growth in and around North Colchester presents a unique opportunity for the city and wider region. Colchester is also fortunate to benefit from a range of sustainable settlements in close proximity to the city, including Langham a short distance to the north. Langham presents an excellent opportunity to accommodate growth in a sustainable and accessible location, close to a wide range of jobs and leisure opportunities, whilst facilitating the delivery of enhanced infrastructure for existing residents. Indeed, the credentials of Langham are recognised by its classification as a “Sustainable Settlement” in the Spatial Hierarchy of the adopted Local Plan, just below Colchester and its immediate environs and at the same level as the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community. These credentials were recognised further through the allocation of land to deliver around 100 new homes. Langham should continue to be recognised for the opportunities it presents to accommodate sustainable growth and deliver new infrastructure in close proximity to Colchester’s northern fringe as part of this Local Plan review. Mactaggart and Mickel (Mac Mic) Group are promoting various opportunity sites in and around Langham – to the north of Park Lane (CCC site ID: 10664), south of School Road (10666) to the east of Wick Road (10165). Any or all of these sites could be developed to deliver continued incremental growth of the village to support and grow existing services and or larger scale strategic development to create a larger, more sustainable satellite settlement for Colchester, adopting garden village principles.

1. Making the most of its new city status by cementing its position as a major regional centre, utilising the strategic advantages of its location, transport links and hinterland. To realise this ambition, Colchester will need to continue to deliver significant growth, including new housing to address local and regional needs, new jobs and business activity to build its role as a centre for economic growth and new infrastructure to ensure thriving communities. It will be important for the Council to plan positively to achieve this. 2. Being bold and grasping opportunities to think creatively about how growth is delivered, by utilising a range of options to address local needs and deliver a better quality of life for existing and new residents. These should include incremental growth of existing settlements to support existing services and facilities and more ambitious projects that deliver transformational change, such as the creation of new garden communities that provide a step change in the delivery of new infrastructure. 3. Recognition of the strategic advantages of Langham as a potential location for growth, created by its proximity to the city and the regionally significant employment, leisure and sporting opportunities on its northern fringe, combined with its accessibility via the A12 and the availability of land that is relatively free of environmental and other constraints. The Council should grasp these opportunities to ensure Langham plays a greater role in the delivery of new housing, employment and infrastructure by 2041.