Meeting Details

Apologies were received from Councillors Barber, Bentley, Buston, Luxford Vaughan, MacLean, Smith, Sommers, Tate and J. Young.

Russ Edwards, Latimer, addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(1). Latimer, as the Master Developer for the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community, were extremely supportive of the modified Development Plan Document (DPD), and urged Council to adopt it, to enable the project to build momentum  and deliver homes as soon as possible. It provided a solid and robust policy framework, balancing numerous competing factors and establishing a clear vision for the future  Latimer’s masterplan proposals followed closely the principles established and the spatial framework in the policy. It included an explicit requirement that before any planning approval was granted, a commitment to the full funding of the A133 link road must be demonstrated. This provided robust protection to ensure that a funding solution was established before any planning permission was granted. 

Adoption of the DPD would materially strengthen the Council’s position in ongoing discussions with central government regarding the funding of the A133, as it would demonstrate member confidence in the project and enable Latimer to bring forward a planning application in the summer. However, failure to adopt the DPD or a deferral would signal a lack of confidence and undermine the ability to secure further investment.  

The 7750 homes that would be included in Latimer’s planning application, of which 30% would be affordable, would make a critical contribution to housing targets, within a planned and sustainable garden community, which would be delivered alongside the necessary infrastructure, open space and employment opportunities. 

Latimer’s parent company, Clarion, was the largest provider of affordable housing in the United Kingdom. Adoption of the DPD would allow them to build momentum, lobby for additional infrastructure funding and deliver against their commitment to make the Garden Community a place everybody could be proud of.  Tendring District Council had already demonstrated their confidence in the policy and the project and Colchester Council should do the same by adopting the DPD.

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, responded and stressed that the administration shared the view that adoption of the DPD would materially strengthen the Council’s planning position and policies.  The role of Clarion in delivering affordable housing nationwide was acknowledged and the delivery of such housing as part of the Garden Community would be welcomed.

Manda O’Connell, Chair of Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Liaison Group (CLG), addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(1) on behalf of the Community Liaison Group. The DPD would help fulfil Colchester’s housing commitment, including 30% social housing over the next 30 years. It enshrined garden community principles and would protect Colchester and Tendring from speculative development. Adoption of the DPD was recommended but not before the government’s Spending Review on 11 June or before the outcome of the additional funding application that Essex County Council had been invited to submit to cover the shortfall for the link road.  The funding for the link road needed to be obtained now before any houses were built, not as a precondition for significant housing development.   The DPD should not be adopted into the Local Plan based on only the concept of the link road.  The link road was crucial to achieving the social and economic goals of the Garden Community and the plan needed to be based on having the resources to achieve it in advance. Designs for an alternative, interim affordable link, like those proposed by the CLG should also be considered. The CLG supported the deferment of the vote until the resources to fulfil the link road were secured. 

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, responded and stressed the value placed by councillors on the work of the CLG. Their support for the vision and the DPD was welcomed.   The administration’s view was that the DPD’s contribution to securing the link road needed to be considered, in terms of it needing to be fully funded and deliverable when required, and that the necessary funding and assurances would need to be in place before planning permission for any housing could be granted. 

It was proposed by Councillor King that Full Council formally adopts the modified version of the Garden Community Development Plan Document  and the Accompanying Policies Map, as attached as Appendices A and B respectively to the report by the Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer.  

Councillor Kelly moved Main Amendment A as follows:-

To change Recommended Decision 2.1 from “2.1 That Full Council formally adopts the modified version of the Garden Community Development Plan Document and the accompanying Policies Map, as attached as Appendices A and B respectively to this report.”

To:

“That Full Council notes the progress on the Garden Community Development Plan Document and welcomes the extra details on the required infrastructure contained within it.

However, Full Council also notes the lack of clarity on the status of Phase 2 of the A1331 link road including the likely date of completion, housing number trigger point and source of funding. Phase 2 of the road is a key piece of infrastructure which is required at an early stage of development if the Garden Community is not to have an overwhelming negative impact on Colchester and other surrounding settlements such as Wivenhoe and its residents.

Council is also concerned that a lack of external funding could impact on the viability of delivering other aspects including the 30% of affordable housing.

Council therefore resolves to defer any decision on adoption until after the Comprehensive Spending Review announcement of June 11 and/or further clarity is provided by Central Government on additional funding towards the Garden Community to enable its successful completion including both phases of the A1331, the affordable housing and other required infrastructure.”

Councillor King indicated that Main Amendment A was not accepted. 

On being put to the vote the Main Amendment was lost (SIXTEEN voted FOR, TWENTY-THREE voted AGAINST and THREE ABSTAINED from voting).

A named vote having been requested pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 15(2) by Councillor Naylor, supported by Councillors Hagon and Parsons,  the voting was as follows:-

FOR: Councillors Calverley, Cory, Davidson, Dundas, Hagon, Kelly, Laws, Lissimore, Maclean, Naylor, Parsons, Powling, Rowe,  Smithson, Sunnucks and Willetts.

AGANST: Councillors Alake Akinyemi, Appleton, Arnold, Cox, Çufoglu, Goacher, Goss, Harris, Jay, King, Kirkby-Taylor, Law, McCarthy, Moffat, Osborne, Pearson, Rippingale, Scordis, Scott-Boutell, Smalls, M. Spindler. Warnes. and T. Young.

ABSTAINED FROM VOTING: C, Spindler, the Deputy Mayor (Ellis) and the Mayor (Lilley).


On being put to the vote the substantive motion was carried (TWENTY-FOUR voted FOR, FOURTEEN VOTED AGAINST and FOUR ABSTAINED from voting).