Councillors have agreed to put a draft Development Plan to shape growth of a new garden community out for consultation.

Tendring District Council(TDC) voted last night (Thursday, 2 March) to send the Development Plan for the Tendring/Colchester Border Garden Community (TCBGC) out for formal consultation, following backing of the TCB Joint Committee on Monday night (27 February).

TCBGC is a planned new settlement laying between Colchester and Elmstead Market, and forms part of the adopted Local Plan for Tendring and Colchester.

The decision is subject to Colchester City Council also agreeing to send the plan for consultation, with the topic on the agenda for its next scheduled full council meeting on 23 March.

If approved, then consultation will take place in May and June, with all responses being sent to the Planning Inspectorate. A Planning Inspector will then consider these and assess if the Development Plan is sound and complaint with local and national planning policy.

Nick Turner, Chairman of the TCB Joint Committee and of TDC’s Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee, welcomed the decision.

“We look forward to going out to consultation on this exciting plan, which will help to shape future growth in our area through garden community principles, subject of course to agreement by our partners at Colchester City Council later this month,” Councillor Turner said.

“When the consultation commences I strongly encourage people to take part and have their say on the Development Plan.”

‍