Tendring District Council (TDC) has launched a public consultation as part of a full-scale review of its Local Plan – the blueprint for future growth and planning policy in the district.

Residents are now being invited to share their views after TDC decided to go back to the drawing board during its five-year review of the plan, which is set to see its timeframe extended to 2041.

The review was paused last summer due to the Government's consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the introduction of mandatory housebuilding targets.

These changes will increase Tendring’s housebuilding target from 550 to 1,034 homes per year, starting January 2026.

It means the council must plan for an additional 7,000-8,000 homes by 2041, on top of the 9,600 that are already planned.

Previously, the council had suggested six options as part of the review for accommodating 3,000-4,000 extra homes, but the new target means a fresh approach is needed.

Residents are now asked to consider four new alternatives during the six-week consultation into the updated ‘Issues and Options’ document, which starts today (Monday, 3 March).

All options include proposals for major growth in Harwich, potential new garden villages on key transport corridors, and varied development across other towns and villages.

Councillor Andy Baker, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, said: "These new mandatory targets from Government have doubled the number of homes we need to identify during the review of the Local Plan.

“It means that most towns and villages in the district will be impacted in some way and we will likely need to establish several new garden villages.

“Although it's disappointing that the concerns we expressed to the Government weren't addressed, we do now understand the scale of the challenge ahead.

“The significant increase presents major challenges, requiring us to reconsider our options – and we are very keen to hear residents' views on these alternative plans."

As well as the options for future housing growth, the council will be inviting people’s views on a wide variety of planning issues including delivering new and improved infrastructure, health provision, protection and enhancement of wildlife and heritage, green energy and energy efficient buildings, coastal issues and tackling deprivation.

As part of the consultation, there will be four face-to-face drop-in sessions with council officers, all from 3pm to 7pm, at:

• 1912 Centre, Cow Lane, Kings Quay Street, Harwich, CO12 3ES, on Monday, 17 March

• Brightlingsea Parish Hall, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea, CO7 0BP, on Tuesday, 18 March

• Lawford Venture Centre, Bromley Road, Lawford, CO11 2JE, on Monday, 24 March

• The Columbine Centre, Prince’s Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8PZ, on Wednesday, 26 March

Following this initial consultation the first draft of the Local Plan, which will set out the council’s preferred options, will be published for consultation in late Summer/early Autumn.

The council will then aim to publish the final draft of the Local Plan for consultation in Winter 2025/26, after which it will be submitted to the Government for public examination.

To have your say, visit www.tendringdc.gov.uk/consultations.

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