Date issued: 21 October 2020
More than 400 comments have been submitted as part of the most recent Local Plan consultation.
Residents and stakeholders across North Essex have had their say on the Planning Inspector’s proposed changes to the joint parts of the local plans for Braintree, Colchester and Tendring.
Following his public inspection of the council’s joint plans, which centred around three garden communities in North Essex, the Inspector recommended some key modifications to the proposals before he could find the section 1 local plan sound.
The Planning Inspector’s modifications included the removal of two of the three proposed garden communities and a number of other changes to mitigate the impact on wildlife; manage any potential flood risk, allocate land in the garden community to accommodate expansion of the University of Essex.
Within the modifications he also stated that planning consent and funding approval for the A120-133 link road and rapid transit system are secured before planning approval is granted for any development forming part of the garden community.
The consultation ran from Thursday 27th August until 9 October 2020 with 137 people submitting 403 comments.
Responses have been processed and are now with the Planning Inspector.
The councils will await further instruction from the planning inspector as to how the joint part of the local plan can proceed.
Councillor Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture & Performance and Deputy Leader of Colchester Borough Council said: “The comments have been fed back to the Planning Inspector and we eagerly anticipate the next stage of the Local Plan process.”
Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning at Braintree District Council, said: “We are glad to have so many comments to this latest consultation. We now await the Planning Inspector’s considerations.”
Councillor Neil Stock OBE, Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning at Tendring District Council, said: “It is an important part of the Local Plan process that the modifications are consulted upon, and we look forward to hearing from the Planning Inspector soon.”
To view the comments made during the consultation please visit www.braintree.gov.uk/NEAMMS1.
Page last reviewed: 21 October 2020