Colchester City Council is excited to announce the launch of the “Call for Sites” consultation, marking the opening stage of the Local Plan Review. This consultation aims to gather insights from residents, landowners, developers and stakeholders to help shape the development plan for Colchester.
The Local Plan Review is a comprehensive review of the development plan for Colchester, which sets out the council's vision for the city's future, including its housing needs, employment opportunities, and infrastructure requirements. The council is taking a fresh approach to engagement for the upcoming review, meaning that the consultation will be broken down and smaller consultations will be held over a longer period. This will allow the council to get feedback from the public on a more regular basis to help them shape the way ahead.
The "Call for Sites" is the first step in this engagement process and provides an opportunity for members of the community to propose sites to promote land for housing, employment, offsite biodiversity net gain and green spaces.
All submitted sites, combined with any additional sites identified, will undergo a rigorous assessment through the Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA) to determine their suitability, availability, and achievability. This assessment will play a crucial role in determining which sites are feasible for development over the planned period.
The easiest way to submit suggested sites, is through the online site submission form. The deadline for submissions is set for Friday, January 5, 2024.
The council is also seeking public input on the draft Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA) methodology. The draft methodology can be viewed on the public consultation website, and comments can be submitted using the online consultation portal until Friday, November 17, 2023.
Colchester City Council welcomes all members of the community to participate actively in this process, making it a unique opportunity for their voices to be heard in shaping the city's future.
Cllr David King, Leader of the Council, said: “The 'Call for Sites' is opportunity to become an active participant in sculpting the future of Colchester. We're reaching out to every resident, landowner and developer in Colchester. Their contributions will help us define the landscape of our city's future. Together, we can ensure that Colchester remains a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable place to call home for generations to come.”
Page last reviewed: 26 October 2023