Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025

Support

Representation ID: 12849

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

West Bergholt Parish Council supports this policy but, to prevent misunderstanding and concern the first sentence in c) should be amended to “Provide a safe pedestrian access to ensure connectivity within and throughout the site to existing public footways and any public rights of way”.
See West Bergholt PC Summary of Local Meeting 15/12/2026.

Support

Representation ID: 12850

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

West Bergholt Parish Council supports this policy but, as the result of a Parish Consultation session, suggests the following addition:
“Development layout to ensure that only single storey dwellings are positioned adjacent to the ‘Garthwood Close’ site boundary to reduce overlooking existing properties.”
See West Bergholt PC Summary of Local Meeting 15/12/2026.

Object

Representation ID: 12851

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

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 Viewpoint2SheetA.jpg.

Object

Representation ID: 12852

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

West Bergholt Parish Council objects to this policy based on the Inspector’s comments for this site covered by Appeal Ref: APP/A1530/W/18/3207626 (attached). See also WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg
“20. It was evident from my site visit that both the eastern and western fields of the appeal site have a rural feel that relates much more to the wider agricultural area than to the nearby development within the settlement. ... This is an area of landscape transition, which is sensitive to change. In my judgement, the proposed development would have an adverse effect on the landscape character of the area of substantial significance.”

Object

Representation ID: 12855

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

WBPC objects to this policy based on the Inspector’s comments for this site covered by Appeal Ref: APP/A1530/W/18/3207626 (attached). See also LocationOfViewpoints1And2.pdf, Viewpoint1.jpg Viewpoint2SheetA.jpg
“25. The development of the eastern field would project built form and suburban type activity beyond what is currently perceived to be the confines of the settlement. ... The apparent depth of the residential development, given that the land slopes to the south, would be apparent from Colchester Road. An expansion of the settlement of this scale and prominence, in this location, would significantly detract from the sense of separation between West Bergholt and Braiswick.”

Object

Representation ID: 12857

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

WBPC objects to this policy based on the Inspector’s comments on Appeal Ref: APP/A1530/W/18/3207626 (attached). See also WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg
“27. ...... I find that the proposal would have a substantial adverse effect on the character and appearance of the area, and so would conflict with CS Policy ENV1. It would also conflict with that part of CS Policy SD1 that expects development to achieve compatibility with local character. In addition, the scheme would be at odds with the requirement in CS Policy DP1 that proposals respect or enhance the landscape that contributes positively to the site and the surrounding area.”

Object

Representation ID: 12860

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

West Bergholt Parish Council objects to this policy based on the report to the then Colchester Borough Council into the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan submission version by the Independent Examiner in November 2018, see West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan Policy PP12 and Map PP12 as evidence.
With regards to: Policy PP22: Coalescence
The Independent Examiner stated, “I therefore conclude that Policy PP22 will contribute to the delivery of sustainable development without modification.”
(Please note that Policy PP22 and Map PP22 became PP12 and Map PP12 in the adopted Neighbourhood Plan).

Object

Representation ID: 12862

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

West Bergholt Parish Council objects to this policy, supported by the statement that “All development Proposals within West Bergholt parish, will also be determined against the policies in the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan (adopted October 2019) where they are up to date and relevant” as it doesn’t accord with:
PP12: Coalescence.
“Development will not be supported in the area shown on Map PP12 if individually or cumulatively it would result in increasing the coalescence between West Bergholt village and Braiswick, reducing their separate identity by reducing the separation between these two settlements.” See Policy PP12 and Map P12, WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7.jpg, WBNPIndicativeViewsCA7Photos.jpg

Object

Representation ID: 12863

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

West Bergholt Parish Council objects to this policy as it doesn’t even appear to comply with policies ST3 and ST4 of this Preferred Options document. See LocationOfViewpoints1And2.pdf, Viewpoint1.jpg, Viewpoint2SheetA.jpg

Object

Representation ID: 12864

Received: 12/01/2026

Respondent: West Bergholt Parish Council

West Bergholt Parish Council objects to this policy but, if unsuccessful, would propose the following amendment:
“a) Approximately 82 new dwellings of tenure and bedroom size mix as evidenced in the RCCE West Bergholt Housing Needs Survey (November 2025) and the still relevant elements of the adopted West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan and which is compatible with surrounding development;”.
See also the West Bergholt ‘Housing Need and Density Report’ and Minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting 07/01/2026.