Wivenhoe Neighbourhood Plan officially adopted

Date issued: 31 May 2019

Wivenhoe Neighbourhood Plan officially adopted

Identifying a limited number of sites where  new homes  can be built to avoid speculative development and added protection for the River Colne are among the benefits of a new plan for Wivenhoe that has been formally adopted by Colchester Borough Council.

The Wivenhoe Neighbourhood Plan, spanning 2019-2033, outlines 32 policies Colchester Borough Council will now follow when making any planning decisions affecting Wivenhoe.

These include:

• identifying sites for 250 new homes in Wivenhoe over the next 14 years;
• providing protection for valued natural areas such as University Marshes, Ferry Marsh and the River Colne;
• Ensuring that new homes contribute to improved infrastructure including the following:
  • a new cemetery on Elmstead Road;
  • expanding the allotments on the existing site and at a site adjacent to Broomgrove School;
  • providing playing fields on two hectares of the land adjacent to Broad Lane Sports Ground,
  • new open spaces
  • new cycle/footways.

In 2013 the council agreed a Neighbourhood Plan covering the whole of the Wivenhoe ward should be developed.

A working group, in consultation with the local community, have developed the plan over the last six years and it was overwhelmingly backed by residents in a referendum held on Thursday 2 May with 2,771 people in favour and 342 against.

Councillor Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Performance and Deputy Leader of the Council said: “This is an important moment for the Wivenhoe area as it gives a clear outline of how the area will be shaped over the next 14 years.

“The Neighbourhood Plan has been developed with extensive involvement by the local community, scrutinised by an independent examiner and backed by 89 per cent of residents taking part in the referendum.

“Now it will form a key part of our overarching Local Plan which helps to shape the future sustainable growth of the whole borough.”