Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Search representations
Results for West Bergholt Parish Council search
New searchSupport
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST1: Health and Wellbeing
Representation ID: 12681
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
West Bergholt Parish Council supports this policy.
The Council’s only comment is that “A Health Impact Assessment will be required for all residential development in excess of 50 units” should be amended to “A Health Impact Assessment will be required for all residential development of at least 50 units”.
This ensures that Policy PP42: Land at White Hart Lane, West Bergholt will be covered by this policy.
See evidence of concerns raised in Minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting 7/1/2026.
West Bergholt Parish Council supports this policy.
The Council’s only comment is that “A Health Impact Assessment will be required for all residential development in excess of 50 units” should be amended to “A Health Impact Assessment will be required for all residential development of at least 50 units”.
This ensures that Policy PP42: Land at White Hart Lane, West Bergholt will be covered by this policy.
See evidence of concerns raised in Minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting 7/1/2026.
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST2: Environment and the Green Network and Waterways
Representation ID: 12682
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
WBPC notes the policy “will safeguard the landscape character of Colchester” and that enhancing ecological connections is a priority as such connections improve the general ecological condition of wider landscapes.
Where the landscape is being used as an open buffer between settlements (preventing coalescence) it should be protected to ensure that ecological connections are not adversely affected. Thus “The Council will safeguard … and archaeology” should be amended to “The Council will safeguard the landscape character of Colchester as defined by the area’s existing biodiversity, geology, green network and waterways, areas preventing coalescence, history and archaeology”.
Evidence: WBNPindicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpeg
WBPC notes the policy “will safeguard the landscape character of Colchester” and that enhancing ecological connections is a priority as such connections improve the general ecological condition of wider landscapes.
Where the landscape is being used as an open buffer between settlements (preventing coalescence) it should be protected to ensure that ecological connections are not adversely affected. Thus “The Council will safeguard … and archaeology” should be amended to “The Council will safeguard the landscape character of Colchester as defined by the area’s existing biodiversity, geology, green network and waterways, areas preventing coalescence, history and archaeology”.
Evidence: WBNPindicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpeg
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST3: Spatial Strategy
Representation ID: 12683
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
West Bergholt Parish Council generally supports this policy and agrees that an appropriate level of growth should be allocated within the large, medium and some small settlements, based on the opportunities and constraints of each settlement and informed by the wider evidence base.
However, as West Bergholt’s adopted Neighbourhood Plan sets out the vision for development until 2033, the Parish Council believes that such Neighbourhood Plans should be taken into consideration. To ensure this, West Bergholt Parish Council believes that the policy should read “and informed by the wider evidence base which includes adopted Neighbourhood Plans.”
West Bergholt Parish Council generally supports this policy and agrees that an appropriate level of growth should be allocated within the large, medium and some small settlements, based on the opportunities and constraints of each settlement and informed by the wider evidence base.
However, as West Bergholt’s adopted Neighbourhood Plan sets out the vision for development until 2033, the Parish Council believes that such Neighbourhood Plans should be taken into consideration. To ensure this, West Bergholt Parish Council believes that the policy should read “and informed by the wider evidence base which includes adopted Neighbourhood Plans.”
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST3: Spatial Strategy
Representation ID: 12686
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
WBPC supports this policy and agrees the growth needs of Colchester should be balanced against the need to protect and enhance biodiversity, landscape and heritage. It welcomes the approach that also ensures that existing settlements maintain their distinctive character and role by avoiding harmful coalescence between them and through conserving their setting.
Therefore, it is hard to justify the inclusion in this Preferred Options document of Policy PP44: Land off Colchester Road, which is wholly located in an area designated to prevent coalescence, as evidenced in Policy PP12, and Map PP12 in WBPC’s Neighbourhood Plan.
Evidence: WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpeg
WBPC supports this policy and agrees the growth needs of Colchester should be balanced against the need to protect and enhance biodiversity, landscape and heritage. It welcomes the approach that also ensures that existing settlements maintain their distinctive character and role by avoiding harmful coalescence between them and through conserving their setting.
Therefore, it is hard to justify the inclusion in this Preferred Options document of Policy PP44: Land off Colchester Road, which is wholly located in an area designated to prevent coalescence, as evidenced in Policy PP12, and Map PP12 in WBPC’s Neighbourhood Plan.
Evidence: WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpeg
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST4: Development in the Countryside
Representation ID: 12691
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
WBPC supports this policy and agrees that proposals must consider the role the landscape plays as an open buffer between settlements or areas of a settlement, and the resulting sense of separation and distinctive identity.
Note that in view of this policy it is difficult to justify the inclusion in this Preferred Options document of Policy PP44: Land off Colchester Road, which is wholly located in an area designated to prevent coalescence and is a valued landscape, as evidenced in Policy PP12 and Map PP12 in West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan. See paragraph 15.3.3.
Evidence: WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg
WBPC supports this policy and agrees that proposals must consider the role the landscape plays as an open buffer between settlements or areas of a settlement, and the resulting sense of separation and distinctive identity.
Note that in view of this policy it is difficult to justify the inclusion in this Preferred Options document of Policy PP44: Land off Colchester Road, which is wholly located in an area designated to prevent coalescence and is a valued landscape, as evidenced in Policy PP12 and Map PP12 in West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan. See paragraph 15.3.3.
Evidence: WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST4: Development in the Countryside
Representation ID: 12693
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
WBPC supports this policy and agrees that proposals must consider the role the landscape plays as an open buffer between settlements or areas of a settlement, and the resulting sense of separation and distinctive identity.
Note that in view of this policy it is difficult to justify the inclusion in this Preferred Options document of Policy PP44: Land off Colchester Road, which is wholly located in an area designated to prevent coalescence and is a valued landscape, as evidenced in Policy PP12 and Map PP12 in West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan. See paragraph 15.3.3.
Evidence: WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg
WBPC supports this policy and agrees that proposals must consider the role the landscape plays as an open buffer between settlements or areas of a settlement, and the resulting sense of separation and distinctive identity.
Note that in view of this policy it is difficult to justify the inclusion in this Preferred Options document of Policy PP44: Land off Colchester Road, which is wholly located in an area designated to prevent coalescence and is a valued landscape, as evidenced in Policy PP12 and Map PP12 in West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan. See paragraph 15.3.3.
Evidence: WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST5: Colchester's Housing Need
Representation ID: 12694
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
WBPC generally supports this policy and agrees that the overall distribution of new housing across Colchester should be guided by Policy ST3. However, the adopted West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan should be considered when calculating the number of required new homes.
WBPC generally supports this policy and agrees that the overall distribution of new housing across Colchester should be guided by Policy ST3. However, the adopted West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan should be considered when calculating the number of required new homes.
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST5: Colchester's Housing Need
Representation ID: 12697
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
The current Neighbourhood Plan based on the then current Local Plan agreed to provide no less than 120 new homes. The proposed 250 is an increase exceeding 100%. As the Neighbourhood Plan looks forward to 2033, any increase should be in line with the average uplift of 40%, as evidenced in Policy PP9 and paragraph 15.4.1 in WBPC's Neighbourhood Plan, Housing Needs and Density Report, and Minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting 7/1/2026.
The current Neighbourhood Plan based on the then current Local Plan agreed to provide no less than 120 new homes. The proposed 250 is an increase exceeding 100%. As the Neighbourhood Plan looks forward to 2033, any increase should be in line with the average uplift of 40%, as evidenced in Policy PP9 and paragraph 15.4.1 in WBPC's Neighbourhood Plan, Housing Needs and Density Report, and Minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting 7/1/2026.
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST5: Colchester's Housing Need
Representation ID: 12698
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
WBPC generally supports this policy; however, evidence indicates that Policy PP44: Land off Colchester Road, West Bergholt is unlikely to comply with all other relevant policies (particularly in relation to policies ST3 and ST4). Should this be the case then this site will be unavailable.
Evidence: WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg
WBPC generally supports this policy; however, evidence indicates that Policy PP44: Land off Colchester Road, West Bergholt is unlikely to comply with all other relevant policies (particularly in relation to policies ST3 and ST4). Should this be the case then this site will be unavailable.
Evidence: WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, and WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy ST5: Colchester's Housing Need
Representation ID: 12701
Received: 12/01/2026
Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council
If West Bergholt is required to provide a 40% uplift on their Neighbourhood Plan new homes number this will equate to no less than 168, evidenced by WBPC in its recent ‘Housing Needs Survey’ and associated densities it seems that such numbers could be provided by the remaining two sites, PP42 and PP43. See: West Bergholt Housing Needs Survey, November 2025, pages 2 and 3, Housing Need and Density Report, and Minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting 7/1/2026.
If West Bergholt is required to provide a 40% uplift on their Neighbourhood Plan new homes number this will equate to no less than 168, evidenced by WBPC in its recent ‘Housing Needs Survey’ and associated densities it seems that such numbers could be provided by the remaining two sites, PP42 and PP43. See: West Bergholt Housing Needs Survey, November 2025, pages 2 and 3, Housing Need and Density Report, and Minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting 7/1/2026.
