Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025

Policy PP49: Land at St Ives Road, Peldon
25 houses
The site is a longstanding area of wildlife in the centre of the village. As such, developing it will significantly change the character of the village.
Given the proximity of this wildlife site to Middlewick woods which a recent survey has established have the second largest population of Nightingales in the country, it is important that an ecological survey be conducted before this area is included as a housing site in the local plan.
St Ives Road is a narrow rural road which is NOT suitable for two-way traffic, nor is it wide enough to accommodate a footpath.
Concerns have been expressed to me in the past that there is significant sub soil drainage of water from the woodland which is proposed to be developed down which is adversely affecting some houses on Wigborough Road, Peldon downslope of the proposed site including some on the south side of the road which are of timber construction – and therefore causing structural problems. This situation could be worsened by development. As such, if development goes ahead specific requirements to prevent downslope drainage should be imposed.
Whilst the edge of Peldon village can just be seen from locations to the south such as Mersea, as the proposed site is on the south facing hillside it would be visible from Mersea Island and the coast along the Blackwater estuary and so detract from the landscape character.
Summary
The site is a longstanding area of wildlife in the centre of the village. As such, developing it will significantly change the character of the village.
St Ives Road is a narrow rural road which is NOT suitable for two-way traffic, nor is it wide enough to accommodate a footpath.
Land drainage issues from the site – which are currently affecting some houses on Wigborough Road must be addressed.

As a Lexden and Braiswick ward councillor I have consulted residents, parish councils and credible key figures about impacts of this draft plan. Villages face being overwhelmed and Colchester's infrastructure needs £800m investment.

Residents oppose the excessive Government housing target imposed on Colchester City Council area, which is being displaced here by Government's decision to reduce London's house-building target.

This plan does not meet the tests articulated in 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or in key policies ST3 and ST7. Government is failing to fund vital infrastructure, for example, 100+ beds needed for Colchester Hospital, and has canceled the A12 widening project.

As a Lexden and Braiswick ward councillor I have consulted residents, parish councils and credible key figures about impacts of this draft plan. Villages face being overwhelmed and Colchester's infrastructure needs £800m investment.

Residents oppose the excessive Government housing target imposed on Colchester City Council area, which is being displaced here by Government's decision to reduce London's house-building target.

This plan does not meet the tests articulated in 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or in key policies ST3 and ST7. Government is failing to fund vital infrastructure, for example, 100+ beds needed for Colchester Hospital, and has canceled the A12 widening project.

This site is not in Eight Ash Green and lies in the Aldham Parish Council boundary. This allocation is not supported by the parish councils.

This allocation promotes coalescence of villages contrary to ST4 (3.31). It imperils the neighbouring ancient woodland, which will be affected by surface water run-off and hazards arising from house-building and eventual habitation of the properties. This conflicts with PP32 (d).

Halstead Road will be gridlocked by the cumulative impact of new housing along its length.

If ST3 used appropriate methodology, see my objection, then alternative urban sites would be preferred saving villages and green fields.

This allocation was not supported by Eight Ash Green residents engaging in 2025 consultations about possible development sites. This development will exacerbate 'ribbon' style development and is not favoured.

This site is for 180 new homes and will contribute to the gridlocking of Halstead Road as a result of the cumulative impact of new housing along its length.

PP31 (c): Active travel to Tollgate District Centre does not/cannot exist to cross A12 Junction 26 safely given traffic volumes.

If ST3 used appropriate methodology, see my objection, then alternative urban sites would be preferred saving villages and green fields from over-development.

As Lexden and Braiswick ward councillor, I support West Bergholt Parish Council's position below:

"WBPC objects to this policy as the positioning of such an extensive site itself undoubtably harms the coalescence
break. Therefore “Development must ensure it does not harm the coalescence break which is defined in the West
Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan and ensure appropriate mitigation and enhancement is provided as evidence through
appropriate landscape character evidence to be agreed with the Council” is fundamentally flawed for this policy, as
evidenced in WB Neighbourhood Plan Policy PP12 and Map PP12 and paragraph 15.3.3. as well as the Viewpoint
document."

West Bergholt Parish Council has undertaken extensive work to deliver the best response possible in the circumstances given the imposition of housing targets on Colchester City Council by Government and the prospect of enforcement by Government should the authority not deliver its required allocation.

As Lexden and Braiswick ward councillor, I support West Bergholt Parish Council's position which is to protect West Bergholt from coalescence with the city boundary by preserving the countryside that currently divides it.

However, if ST3 used appropriate methodology, see my objection, then alternative urban sites would be preferred saving villages and green fields from over-development.

West Bergholt Parish Council has undertaken extensive work to deliver the best response possible in the circumstances given the imposition of housing targets on Colchester City Council by Government and the prospect of enforcement by Government should the authority not deliver its required allocation.

As Lexden and Braiswick ward councillor, I support West Bergholt Parish Council's position which is to protect West Bergholt from coalescence with the city boundary by preserving the countryside that currently divides it.

However, if ST3 used appropriate methodology, see my objection, then alternative urban sites would be preferred saving villages and green fields from over-development.

As Lexden and Braiswick councillor I support Braiswick Residents Association's response:

"PP4 is undeliverable as it relies on vehicular and pedestrian access via adjoining land, with no
mechanism in the Local Plan to secure delivery or timing. Evidence from the neighbouring
Abhora Homes scheme shows a negative residual land value, undermining confidence that
infrastructure will be delivered. The site performs poorly in sustainability terms, with
unresolved impacts on biodiversity, landscape, and drainage. These long-standing
coordination and delivery issues mean the policy fails the tests of soundness and should be
removed."

PP4 (d): Bakers Lane is too dangerous for active travel.

As Lexden and Braiswick ward councillor, I support the residents' response:

"Braiswick Residents Association objects to Policy PP7 because it is not justified, not
effective, and not consistent with national planning policy.
This site was dismissed on appeal in 2018 following a public inquiry. The Planning Inspector
found harm to the character of the area, concluded the site was not in a sustainable location
and determined the harms outweighed the benefits. Bakers Lane was identified as a rural road
that would be irrevocably changed by development..." (the end of BRA's submission is removed for word count here but is valid)