1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This is the Adopted Review Colchester Borough Local Plan 2004. It completely replaces the Adopted Review Colchester Borough Local Plan of January 1995 and the Adopted Central Area Local Plan of 1984. It therefore provides comprehensive and up-to-date planning policy coverage for the Borough until 2011.

1.2 The Plan is a statutory district-wide Local Plan prepared as required by the 1991 Planning and Compensation Act and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) (England) Regulations 1999.

1.3 The Council sets out in the Plan how it wants to see the Borough develop over the next decade. To do this, the Plan provides for the wide range of new development required by allocating sites, whilst ensuring that this development preserves and does not undermine the high-quality rural, coastal and built environments which are its heritage. It reinforces this by setting out a range of detailed policies, aimed at securing the highest environmental standards for all new development.

1.4 The Plan has been prepared in the context of, and is in general conformity with, the 2001 Regional Planning Guidance for the South-East (RPG9) and the April 2001 Adopted Essex and Southend-on-Sea Replacement Structure Plan.

1.5 Colchester is, however, now located within the East of England Region for planning purposes and a new Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS 14) is currently in preparation. This will be published for consultation later this year, and will impact significantly on future reviews of this plan, to be commenced in 2004 under the new national Development Plan system.

1.6 The Plan also takes account of the relevant national Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) and other legislation, which has come into force since the adoption of the previous Plan in 1995.

1.7 In preparing the Plan, a number of studies were undertaken to inform and advise on particular policy areas. The most important of these were the Urban Capacity Study, which underpins the Housing Strategy, and the Shopping Study, which performs the same function for Chapter 15 of the Plan, “Town Centre and Shopping”.

1.8 An Environmental Appraisal was carried out for all policies/proposals at both First and Second Deposit Draft stages.

Consultation

1.9 The Council consulted widely at the First and Second Deposit Draft stages of the Plan’s preparation, and those objections not resolved or withdrawn were subject to a Public Local Inquiry running from April 2001 to February 2002. The Inspector reported to the Council in January 2003.

1.10 As a result of considering the Inspector’s report, the Council made a number of modifications to the Plan. After further public consultation in September/October 2003, all of these modifications have been incorporated in the Adopted Plan.

The Plan’s Structure

1.11 Chapters 2 and 3 of the Plan deal respectively with its broad strategy and an overall Development Control Policy. These are both referred to briefly below (paragraphs 1.14- 1.17 and 1.18-1.21).

1.12 The remainder of the Plan (Chapters 4-21) is divided into five sections, each containing a number of chapters, as follows:

(a) Resources – Coast and Estuaries, Countryside, Urban Environment and Archaeology, Pollution and Land Resources;

(b) Infrastructure – Community Facilities and Infrastructure Provision, University of Essex and Colchester Institute, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism, Transport, Utilities;

(c) Development – Housing, Employment, Town Centre and Shopping;

(d) Area – East Colchester and the Hythe, Colchester Garrison, Mile End, Stanway, Tiptree;

(e) Implementation and Monitoring.

Each policy chapter consists of a series of objectives for the themes covered, followed by the policies and their reasoned justifications. The final chapter sets out how the main proposals of the Plan will be implemented and monitored.

1.13 The Proposals Map contains a number of insets for the Town Centre, East Colchester and the Hythe, Tiptree and West Mersea, as well as for individual villages and Rural Business Sites. The maps show where specific new development is intended to take place and, in general terms, where policies are to be applied.

The Plan’s Strategy

1.14 The Plan is based on the principle of sustainable development as defined by the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission):

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

1.15 The Plan therefore sets out a framework to create a more sustainable future for the Borough. It is environmentally led whilst recognising the importance of meeting the needs of the local economy and supporting local communities. Important resources are to be safeguarded.

1.16 To achieve these broad aims, 11 strategic objectives are set out in Chapter 2. More specific objectives are set out in each successive chapter, and these are then translated into policies.

1.17 In keeping with the principles of sustainable development, the bulk of new development is located within the main urban area of Colchester and Stanway. This means that homes are closer to jobs and other facilities, public transport is easier to provide and the shorter distances involved should encourage less reliance on the private car.

Overall Development Control Policy

1.18 The Council’s previous Local Plans contained a number of policies which were “criteria- based” – that is, they say that development will or will not be permitted subject to satisfying certain criteria. These criteria are often repeated for different types of use.

1.19 The Adopted Plan has been shortened and simplified by removing reference to these criteria in a large number of specific polices, and instead setting out all the more general criteria in one “Overall Development Control Policy”. This has allowed the removal of some policies and the simplification of others.

1.20 It is important to remember that, in considering any development, the relevant parts of the overall policy must be met, as well as more specific policies on, for example, the protection of Conservation Areas. Chapter 3, “Overall Development Control Policy”, explains how the policy is to be applied and how it relates to other policies in the Plan in more detail.

1.21 In assessing any proposal, all relevant policies in the Plan will be considered together.

Relationship to Other Council Initiatives

1.22 Finally, it should be noted that the Local Plan is only one means the Council will use to improve the quality of life in the Borough. It is pursuing a number of other initiatives, many in partnership with others, which will also contribute towards creating a sustainable future, including:

(a) The Community Strategy (adopted by the Council as a partner in The Local Strategic Partnership);

(b) Haven Gateway Partnership (with neighbouring Local Authorities, businesses and other related organisations);

(c) The Council’s own internal initiatives, including the Strategic Plan, Housing Strategy and Transportation Strategy.

1.23 The Community Strategy supports the main elements of the Adopted Plan and will also be crucial in implementing the major regeneration initiatives in North Colchester, the St Botolph’s Quarter, East Colchester and the Garrison.

The Haven Gateway Partnership supports the Plan’s economic policies and will become increasingly important in securing economic prosperity.

The Council’s Strategic Plan, Housing Strategy and Transportation Strategy all support the Local Plan in their respective areas.

The Local Plan will therefore play a central role in realising all these initiatives.