Colchester Borough – Local Plan
Colchester Borough Council have developed a new Local Plan for the Borough and now want you to have your say. They will be consulting between 16th June – 11th August with 12 drop-in sessions taking place between those dates. The following information is provided by CBC:
What will the new Local Plan cover?
The new Plan will set out the strategy for the growth of the Borough up to 2033 and beyond, including the type, location, quantity and timing of new development. The new Local Plan will set out the Council’s ideas for the long term aims and aspirations of the Borough taking into account national guidance and evidence. It will include policies and land allocations that help to deliver them. The Publication Draft Local Plan is in two Parts;
- Section One includes strategic policies covering housing and employment requirements and proposals for new Garden Communities. Two include land within Colchester Borough – Tendring/Colchester Borders and Colchester/Braintree Borders Garden Communities.
- Section Two includes policies and allocations for meeting the needs throughout the rest of the Borough as well as Development Management Policies which are used for considering planning applications.
What is this Consultation About?
Last year we consulted on a Preferred Options Local Plan and have made some changes to the plan to reflect comments received and updated evidence. This Plan now sets out the policies and proposals which the Council considers are the most appropriate for the area to meet the needs of the Borough up to 2033 and beyond. Following this consultation the Plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination which will consider any comments made to this consultation.
How to Respond
Your responses to this consultation will be considered by an Independent Examiner appointed to consider the Colchester Local Plan. To comply with Government guidance, and to help ensure that comments are submitted in a format that the Inspector examining the plan can readily use, your representations must include the following:
- They should state whether the document (or the relevant part of it) is considered sound or unsound. If unsound, you need to include an explanation as to how it can be amended to make it sound.
- They will also need to identify the ‘test of soundness’ or legal requirement to which the representation relates. The table below sets out the four tests and should help you;
Positively prepared – the plan should be prepared on a strategy which seeks to meet objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements, including unmet requirements from neighbouring authorities where it is reasonable to do so and consistent with achieving sustainable development;
Justified – the policy should be the most appropriate strategy, when considered against the reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence;
Effective – the policy should be deliverable over its period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities; and
Consistent with national policy – the policy should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012).
You also need to indicate;
- if the issue has been raised at a previous consultation and if not give a reason for this.
- indicate whether you think the Plan is Legally Compliant.
All these steps are set out clearly when you log on to the online system.
Note: Representations which do not clearly address these points may not be considered valid. Please respond online.
Drop-in sessions
- Tollgate Room, Stanway Village Hall
Villa Road, Stanway CO3 0RH
Saturday 17th June 10am – 2pm - Colchester Market (Bay 4)
High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ
Friday 23rd June 10am – 2pm - Greenstead Community Centre
Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester CO4 3QE
Saturday 24th June 10am – 2pm - St Paul’s Church
Hay Lane South, Braintree CM7 3DY
(CBC representative at event organised
by Braintree District Council)
Monday 26th June 2pm – 8pm - Great Tey Village Hall
Chappel Road, Great Tey CO6 1JQ
Tuesday 27th June 4pm – 8pm - Marks Tey Village Hall
Old London Road, Marks Tey CO6 1EJ
Saturday 1st July 10am – 2pm - Abberton & Langenhoe Village Hall
Abberton CO5 7LP
Monday 3rd July 4pm – 8pm - Elmstead Community Centre
School Road, Elmstead Market CO7 7ET
(CBC representative at event organised by
Tendring District Council)
Tuesday 4th July 3pm – 7pm - Langham Community Centre
School Road, Langham CO4 5PA
Thursday 6th July 4pm – 8pm - MICA Centre
38A High Street, West Mersea CO5 8QA
Saturday 8th July 10am – 2pm - Abbotts Road Community Centre
39 Ladbrook Drive, Colchester CO2 8RW
Wednesday 12th July 4pm – 8pm, - William Loveless Hall
85-87 High Street Wivenhoe CO7 9AB
Tuesday 11th July 4pm-8pm.
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