Engagement and consultation
Preferred Options (December 2025-February 2026)
The council have completed the second phase of engagement known as the Preferred Options and will be reviewing the comments submitted and working on the next stage in the New Local Plan for Colchester known as the Submission Version Plan. We will also be drawing together more evidence.
Issues and Options (2023 and 2024)
The council have completed the first phase of engagement known as the issues and options and will be reviewing the comments submitted and working on the next stage in the Local Plan Review known as the preferred options (more details on this to come early 2025).
View a summary of the issues and options report (PDF,2.30MB)
The issues and options consultations were focused on the following key themes:
- Green Networks and Waterways (14 November 2023 - 5 January 2024)
- Call for Sites (20 October 2023 – 5 January 2024)
- Draft Methodology Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA) (20 October 2023 – 17 November 2023)
- Developing a vision for Colchester (8 February 2024 – 21 March 2024)
- Placemaking (13 June to 25 July 2024)
- BNG call for sites (14 June to 26 July 2024)
- Planning Policy Position for Net Zero Carbon Homes and Buildings in Greater Essex (16 April 2024 – 30 May 2024)
Find more detail in the Engagement and Consultation Strategy (PDF, 206KB)
You can register on our consultation portal to receive notifications of all Local Plan engagement activities and consultations.
Page last reviewed: 29 April 2026