A public consultation involving residents across Tendring has helped to shape the next version of the district’s Local Plan – the blueprint for future growth that could guide the location for 18,000 homes, new jobs and community facilities over the next couple of decades.
The plan is being reviewed in response to the introduction of government-imposed housebuilding targets, which have almost doubled Tendring’s annual requirement from 550 homes to nearly 1,070 per year. The new targets are requiring the Council to plan for 18,000 new homes up to 2043, which is almost 8,000 more than would have been expected from developments that were already in the pipeline.
To meet these additional requirements for housing up to 2043 and to set the direction for growth in the longer-term, draft proposals included three new garden villages at Hare Green, Horsley Cross and Weeley, a major expansion at Harwich, and growth around other towns and villages, and locations with railway stations.
Provisional changes to the local plan agreed by Tendring District Council’s (TDC) planning policy and local plan committee include removing the proposal for 300 homes on land east of Church Road, Brightlingsea, following significant public objections and concerns raised by the town council. An alternative approach of distributing growth across a number of smaller sites will be explored.
The public consultation, held between February and March, attracted more than 620 formal responses and around 700 people spoke directly with planning officers at five drop-in exhibitions – including one in Brightlingsea – and meetings with town and parish councils.
Key issues raised by residents included pressure on transport and infrastructure, the capacity of schools and healthcare services, impacts on the countryside, and whether development on this scale is realistic or will be matched by jobs with affordable homes for local people.
Councillor Andy Baker, TDC’s cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “While we recognise the proposals will not be universally popular, the scale of development is driven by increased government housing targets. We must plan positively to ensure that Tendring is left in the best possible position – and that we secure the infrastructure, jobs and community facilities needed alongside these mandatory targets.”
Council officers will now continue detailed analysis of consultation responses and undertake further technical work to strengthen the evidence base.
It is expected the plan will be submitted to Government in late 2026, followed by examination by a planning inspector in 2027 and adoption later that year.
