A handful of wading birds could determine whether or not a holiday park development in Brightlingsea is allowed to go ahead.
Tendring District councillors unanimously approved the Lower Farm project off Robinson Road on Tuesday (November 5) – but agreed to look again at the proposal following a last-minute email from Natural England which suggested that there could be more curlews on the site than previously thought – up to 35 instead of 23.
Prior to the planning meeting, Natural England – the government’s advising body on the natural environment – had said that the 23 curlews recorded on the site in a developer survey would not be affected by the development, which is adjacent to internationally-important wetlands.
But the council’s head of planning, John Pateman-Gee told councillors that around 90 minutes before the 5pm meeting, a “third party” had received an email from Natural England which said there could be more of the wading birds using the site.
Because the email was only copied in to the council, Mr Pateman-Gee suggested that a way forward was for councillors to approve the application, with officers going to back to Natural England for a formal report.
If Natural England the development would cause disturbance to an increased number of birds, the application would come back to councillors for discussion – if not, then the approval would stand. Mr Pateman-Gee said that it could take up to 21 days to get a response from Natural England.
The plan is a new version of one passed in 2021. It covers around 50% more of the 81-acre former quarry site, with an increased number of units on the site – a total mix of 171 holiday lodges, glamping units, retirement lodges and residential properties – plus swimming pools, spas, a climbing wall, watersports activities, social hubs and catering facilities. Some of the holiday lodges, which will be for sale, feature five bedrooms, adding to an increase in bedrooms of 186 over the original plan.
Prior to the meeting, the committee visited the site and were met by around 100 Brightlingsea residents against the development. Although therer were earlier indications that the public would be allowed on site, the gates were locked once the councillors’ mini-bus went through.
Tendring’s planning officers recommended approval for the development, with Natural England, Essex Highways and other statutory bodies raising no objections provided various conditions were met. In September 2023, following a well-attended public meeting, Brightlingsea Town Council said the plan should be refused and there were over 100 objections recorded on Tendring’s planning portal.
Speaking at the planning meeting, Brightlingsea’s Tendring and town councillor, Jayne Chapman said: “There is serious concern from many councillors and residents that this development will have a significant impact on Brightlingsea.”
She said the development would go against government guidance by reducing space for nature. Referring to Lower Farm’s proximity to protected sites, she said: “There is great concern that surounding sites will be jeopardised by this application,” adding: “If you cannot rule out all rasonable scientific doubt of adverse effect on a site’s integrity you must refuse the proposal.”
Robinson Road resident Paul Neill told the committee that the development would create noise, result in tall buildings visible from residents’ houses and generate years of construction disruption.
He said that the road was not wide enough to support more traffic – a point acknowledged by committee chairman Maria Fowler who praised the skill of the committee’s mini-bus driver in getting past parked vehicles on the way to the site visit – and added that there were “proven serious traffic concerns”.
For the developer – Corby-based Artemis (Brightlingsea) – Shane Martin said: “We are committed to protect and enhance on-site ecology and habitat.” New lakes would include reed beds to create new nesting sites, and an “ecological clerk of works” would work during and after work on the site, with information gathered shared with local wildlife groups.
Properties on the site would have a low carbon footprint, he said, with high thermal efficiency, solar panels and some green roofs. Changeover days and times would be staggered to prevent queuing traffic at the gate.
Under the new proposal, Essex Highways demanded a reduction in the number of Brightlingsea residents allowed to use the facility to reduce traffice movements. Mr Martin said that “we hope to increase this through future negotiation with highways”. He also said that there had already been enquiries about employment on the site, and about the retirement lodges.
• To view a recording of the TDC planning meeting, click here.
