Cost of living support
Colchester City Council is providing support for residents facing the cost of living crisis.
Colchester City Council is providing support for residents facing the cost of living crisis.
Date issued: 13 December 2019
Colchester Borough Council is disappointed by the Planning Inspector’s decision today (Friday, 13 December 2019) to overturn the decision of the council’s Planning Committee and back plans by Alumno for a new Cultural Quarter.
In February, the council’s Planning Committee rejected Alumno’s plans on a range of grounds. However, today, the Planning Inspector has announced that following a two-week public hearing after the developers challenged the decision, he was upholding the appeal.
The Inspector has imposed several conditions, some of which address the concerns raised by the council’s Planning Committee. These include:
Councillor David King, Portfolio Holder Business and Resources, said: “We gave every support we could to our Planning Committee but have to proceed now as the Inspector has ruled, and welcome the improvements he has recommended.
“While it’s not an ideal situation, we now have to look at the positives of the development. It is a £40 million investment in the Town Centre that will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy, but we do also understand the disappointment that will be felt by those who desired a different result and will seek to work with the developer and others to achieve the best possible outcome in these circumstances.
“The decision also helpfully establishes that the council does have a five-year supply of housing land.”
Page last reviewed: 13 December 2019
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