Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025

Whilst we remain mindful of the Council's desire to have a Plan in place we recognise the contribution towards sustainable development objectives that having a Plan in place would make, not least by increasing the supply of housing and employment opportunities which are important Government objectives. However, the growth must be planned and delivered sustainably. An esential part of that consideration involves ensuring that the necessary infrastructure will be in place to support that growth.
A considerable proportion of the Plan's allocated sites, including Marks Tey, North Colchester and Langham, do not have a realistic or reasonable chance of being delivered during the plan period which consequently also puts into question the overall spatial strategy of the Plan.

Colchester's Housing Need is identified in Policy ST5 and states the Council will plan, monitor, and manage the delivery of at least 20,800 new homes in Colchester City between 2025 and 2041. The annual housing requirement for Colchester is 1,300, as identified by the Standard Methodology.

The Council's aim will be to maintain a sufficient supply of deliverable and developable sites to provide for at least five years' worth of housing on a rolling basis, plus an appropriate buffer in accordance with national policy. The overall distribution of new housing across Colchester is guided by Spatial Strategy (Policy ST3).

West Mersea is a coastal town located on the confluence of the Colne and Blackwater Estuaries, approximately 15km from Colchester city centre. In terms of settlement hierarchy West Mersea falls within the category of 'large settlement'. Colchester's large settlements have the most facilities, services, travel choices and opportunities. These settlements also have some of the largest populations of Colchester. However, in the case of West Mersea, this settlement has environmental constraints and accordingly the level of growth must be balanced and appropriate with these constraints.

Policy PP23: Land East Dawes Lane, West Mersea currently proposes approximately 300 new dwellings on good quality agricultural land lying in open countryside outside of existing settlement boundaries to the east of Dawes Lane, West Mersea. West Mersea Town Council has made it clear it is not opposed to 'limited' development for local people, including affordable starter homes, but believes the additional housing on the scale proposed is unsustainable.

Development of 102 East Road offers an opportunity to provide a mix of 52 one, two and three-bedroom properties, with 35% designated as affordable housing in partnership with a registered social landlord, delivering much-needed , high quality and affordable homes for 'local people'.

Whilst we remain mindful of the Council's desire to have a Plan in place we recognise the contribution towards sustainable development objectives that having a Plan in place would make, not least by increasing the supply of housing and employment opportunities which are important Government objectives. However, the growth must be planned and delivered sustainably. An esential part of that consideration involves ensuring that the necessary infrastructure will be in place to support that growth.
A considerable proportion of the Plan's allocated sites, including Marks Tey, North Colchester and Langham, do not have a realistic or reasonable chance of being delivered during the plan period which consequently also puts into question the overall spatial strategy of the Plan.

Colchester's Housing Need is identified in Policy ST5 and states the Council will plan, monitor, and manage the delivery of at least 20,800 new homes in Colchester City between 2025 and 2041. The annual housing requirement for Colchester is 1,300, as identified by the Standard Methodology.

The Council's aim will be to maintain a sufficient supply of deliverable and developable sites to provide for at least five years' worth of housing on a rolling basis, plus an appropriate buffer in accordance with national policy. The overall distribution of new housing across Colchester is guided by Spatial Strategy (Policy ST3).

West Mersea is a coastal town located on the confluence of the Colne and Blackwater Estuaries, approximately 15km from Colchester city centre. In terms of settlement hierarchy West Mersea falls within the category of 'large settlement'. Colchester's large settlements have the most facilities, services, travel choices and opportunities. These settlements also have some of the largest populations of Colchester. However, in the case of West Mersea, this settlement has environmental constraints and accordingly the level of growth must be balanced and appropriate with these constraints.