The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Chapman BEM (with Councillor Steady substituting) and M E Stephenson (with no substitution).

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee, held on Monday 10 February 2025.

Councillor M A Cossens complimented the quality and succinctness of the Minutes, and he felt that they offered a great introduction to the business of this meeting. The Democratic Services Manager (Ian Ford) thanked Councillor Cossens for his kind words.

It was moved by Councillor M A Cossens, seconded by Councillor Scott and:-

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Monday 10 February 2025, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests of Non-Registerable Interests, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no Declarations of Interest made by Members at this time.

Later in the meeting, as detailed in Minute 6 below, Councillor Guglielmi declared an Interest insofar as he was a Director of the Lawford Housing Trust.

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

No questions on notice pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 38 had been submitted on this occasion.

The Council’s Public Speaking Scheme for the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee gives the opportunity for members of the public and other interested parties/stakeholders to speak to the Council’s elected members on that Committee on any report due to be considered at that public meeting.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Council’s public speaking scheme for the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee, no member of the public had registered to ask at this meeting a question or to make a statement on the two Officer reports.

To report to the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee some initial feedback from the recently completed Local Plan Issues and Options and Call for Sites consultation exercises and to present an overview of some of the notable matters raised by different stakeholders – to be taken into account in progressing to the next stage of the plan-making process.

The Committee considered a detailed report of the Corporate Director (Planning and Community) (A.1) which set out some initial feedback from the recently completed Local Plan Issues and Options and Call for Sites consultation exercises and which also presented an overview of some of the notable matters raised by different stakeholders. That feedback would be considered in progressing to the next stage of the plan-making process.

Members were aware that the Issues and Options consultation, held from 3rd March to 14th April 2025, had been conducted primarily online, but it had also included public exhibitions and hard copies of the document made available in libraries and at Clacton Town Hall. The events had been well attended, and Officers had been able to have constructive conversations with members of the public about key issues affecting the Local Plan Review. Recurring themes from those conversations had included concerns about infrastructure, protecting the environment, and discussions about the most suitable locations for new housing development.

It was reported that written responses to the consultation had been received from Town and Parish Councils; technical stakeholders; businesses, landowners and developers; and members of the public. Many respondents had highlighted the strain on existing infrastructure, particularly in terms of transport, healthcare, and education. There was a strong desire to see infrastructure improvements put in place before new housing developments were built. Members of the public had also stressed the importance of preserving green spaces and maintaining the rural character of the District, and concerns had been raised about the impact of development on biodiversity and the natural environment. There had been mixed views about the location and density of new housing development, and although there was general support for the principle of garden villages and a comprehensive rather than piecemeal approach to growth, there was some scepticism about the likelihood of coherent infrastructure delivery.

The Committee was made aware that several Town and Parish Councils had also expressed concerns about the impact of development on local infrastructure, particularly highways impacts, and had highlighted the importance of preserving strategic green gaps between settlements. There had been some support for the proposal of new garden villages, but there was concern about the phasing of infrastructure provision and the impacts on nearby communities. Technical stakeholders (including statutory consultees, utility/infrastructure providers and other public organisations) had emphasised the importance of planning policies around climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, promoting sustainable transport, and ensuring adequate water and health infrastructure were planned alongside new developments.

Members were cognisant that businesses, landowners, and developers had had mixed views about the reliance on garden villages, with some advocating for greater expansion of existing settlements as a more reliable and faster route to housing delivery. Concerns had been consistently raised about the viability of higher biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements.

The Committee was reminded that there had now been two ‘Call for Sites’ consultations, one last year towards the beginning of the Local Plan Review process and one during the recent Issues and Options  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To provide the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee with an update on the progress of three key pieces of evidence that will inform the review of the Local Plan, and to set out the next steps in undertaking the Local Plan Review process.

The Committee considered a comprehensive report of the Corporate Director (Planning and Community) which provided the Committee with an update on the progress of three key pieces of evidence that would inform the review of the Local Plan, and which also set out the next steps in undertaking the Local Plan Review process.

It was reported that the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), conducted by HDH Planning & Development, provided a comprehensive analysis of housing needs in the Tendring District. The assessment used the Standard Method housing target of 1,034 homes per year, projecting a need for 17,578 new homes over a 17-year period. Key findings had included a significant increase in the older population, a higher proportion of owner-occupied housing, and a growing private rented sector. The SHMA had identified the need for various types and tenures of housing, including affordable homes, sheltered housing, extra care units, and accessible homes. Those findings would inform the approach taken to different types and tenures of housing in the Local Plan and well as assisting the determination of Planning applications. This piece of evidence had now been finalised and would be used as a material consideration when determining planning applications, in accordance with policy LP2 in the adopted Local Plan.

The Committee was informed that the Employment Land Review, being undertaken by Ekosgen, would update the existing evidence from 2019, advising on the need for additional employment land. The study considered four scenarios: an employment led scenario, a higher growth scenario, a past take-up scenario, and the labour supply approach. The different approaches to demand assessment had suggested an overall employment land requirement ranging from 5.36 ha to 30.69 ha. Although this quantitative demand could be met through existing employment allocations, the review highlighted the need for additional land allocations to accommodate qualitative requirements for certain sizes and types of development in different sectors, particularly in strategic locations around major roads.

Members were made aware that Jacobs/Essex Highways had conducted a qualitative assessment of transport infrastructure and services required to accommodate growth in the District, with a particular focus on the proposed garden villages. The study had prioritised sustainable modes of transport, with the aim of reducing reliance on cars and improving accessibility. It had evaluated the transport sustainability of ten key areas for growth, identifying opportunities and challenges for each location. The next stage of work would involve detailed transport modelling to assess the impact of developments on specific sites on the highways network and support sustainable travel approaches.

The Committee was advised that, following the Issues and Options Consultation, Officers would prepare the Preferred Options draft of the Local Plan, which would include updated policies and draft allocations for various types of development. Further technical work and testing would be undertaken, including a Sustainability Appraisal, detailed transport modelling, viability testing, a Water Cycle Study, and a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. Engagement with technical stakeholders and neighbouring authorities would continue, to ensure that the Plan was based on robust  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.