Decision Details

Motion G

Proposer: Councillor Sunnucks

This Council notes that

1. Colchester built 19,817 dwellings in the last 20 years , more than any other town in Essex.  Its population grew by 23%  over a similar period without proportionate improvements to its transport and other infrastructure

2. As a result Colchester bears a disproportionate share of the Essex-wide £11billion deficit in transport infrastructure.

3. Colchester’s housebuilding target has increased by 40%, implying an acceleration in its annual population growth to 1.6% per annum.

4. Developers can reasonably be expected to fund directly related infrastructure, but funding for major roads must come from other sources because their costs are so high and their benefits so widespread.

5. Residents will resist development if they see that their lives will be impacted by congestion and too few schools, GPs and other services.

This Council therefore resolves that:

1. It will write to MHCLG explaining that Colchester cannot meet its new housing targets without Government funding for the necessary infrastructure.  In particular we need the promised A12 upgrade to three lanes from Chelmsford to Marks Tey, the A120 dualling from Braintree to the A12 and the full A1331 Link Road between the A133 and A120 at Tendring-Colchester Borders, without which our residents will experience gridlock

2. The infrastructure audit commissioned in 2022 will be completed in advance of the Local Plan review and we will plan new housing on an ‘infrastructure first’ basis.