Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025

Comment

Representation ID: 13927

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

Although we broadly support the Vision, Themes and Objectives set out in the Local Plan,
the Council should acknowledge the partnership role that is required over the plan period.
For the Local Plan to meet its ambitions, developers, landowners, service providers,
stakeholders and the local authorities all need to align and work together for the benefit of
the local community to truly deliver the growth aspirations and sustainable development as
required by the Government.

Comment

Representation ID: 13958

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

Policy ST1 outlines that a Health Impact Assessment is required for developments of 50 or
more dwellings which is a significant change from the adopted Policy DM1 which requires
such assessment on developments of 100 or more dwellings.
The consultation document is unclear as to why the threshold has been reduced and fails to
justify this change. Without clear justification, we are concerned that the Policy adds
additional and unreasonable burden on developments which are promoting a lower quantum
of units.

Comment

Representation ID: 13959

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

Policy ST3 is accompanied by a Settlement Hierarchy which provides the various categories
of settlements across the plan area. Abberton and Langenhoe is identified as a Medium
Settlement, and we broadly agree with this classification and confirm that the settlement is a
sustainable location and capable of accommodating future growth.
Policy ST3 outlines that the plan period is to 2041, but we are concerned that this is not a
long enough time horizon as it does not align with the NPPF requirement for a minimum of 15
years from plan adoption

Comment

Representation ID: 13960

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

The windfall allowance informed by the Council monitoring evidence is not guaranteed and with
only a limited over supply being planned for, we are concerned that Policy ST5 will not deliver the quantum of housing required to meet local need. In response to the Preferred Options consultation, and in recognising the Government’s
objective of significantly boosting the supply of homes (para.61, NPPF) we encourage the
Council to identify additional sites and development opportunities which will ensure that the
minimum number of dwellings required (as set by the Standard Method) is capable of being
achieved over the plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 13961

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

During the preparation of the Preferred Options document, it is understood that the Council
has been engaging with service providers to identify the infrastructure needs over the plan
period. The Local Plan includes site specific requirements as part of the site allocations and
it is essential that the infrastructure needs are understood to provide certainty to developers,
service providers and the local community for when sites come forward.

Comment

Representation ID: 13962

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

The use of frameworks, masterplans, design codes or other design related guidance is
welcomed by Hopkins Homes and we recognise the role that these can play in enabling
healthy and thriving communities to be created through high quality developments.
It is however of concern that Policy ST8 contains a wide variety of criterion which individually
are understood and accepted but it is unclear how they will operate as a whole and in
conjunction with other policies in the plan along with national policy requirements

Comment

Representation ID: 13963

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

Policy EN2 details the requirements in relation to BNG across Colchester. The requirement
for a minimum of 10% BNG and to maximise the delivery of this onsite is in broad
accordance with statutory national requirements.
The Council have identified a number of BNG sites in Colchester where BNG provision could
be made if not achievable onsite (as the preference). The opportunity to use units at these
sites is welcomed and provides greater scope and potential across Colchester.

Comment

Representation ID: 13964

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

We agree with the need to provide relevant information and detail in relation to ecology but
suggest that Policy EN3 takes into account the time scales for determining applications and
how that can interact with the necessary survey windows and times for assessments
throughout the year. Policy EN3 identifies that external expertise may be required to review and validate
ecological survey reports but does not reference the time implications of this and the impact
that may have a decision making. Delays in the reviewing and validation stages can have a
detrimental impact on the timetable for determination of proposals.

Comment

Representation ID: 13965

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

Taking a nature-based solution and designing Sustainable Drainage Systems to seek to
ensure that the area is multifunctional is positive and ensures that development proposals
make efficient use of land. Hopkins Homes has a strong track record of incorporating water
management measures into developments and using permeable paving, grey and rain water
reuse systems for the lifetime of the site broadly in line with Policy EN8.
It is welcomed that Policy EN8 provides for a variety of different measures and will enable
developments to take a site specific and case by case approach to water management on
the site(s).

Comment

Representation ID: 13966

Received: 14/01/2026

Respondent: Hopkins Homes

Agent: Boyer

We are concerned however that the requirements of GN1 are too prescriptive and do not
allow for a design and layout which responds positively to the local character and
surroundings.
It is also unclear as to why the minimum 10% gross site area requirement, which appears to
be an arbitrary figure for multifunctional open space, has been selected as there is no
justification or rationale for the approach provided within the consultation document