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

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Fowler, who had a standing invitation under the Council’s Constitution to attend meetings of this Committee, in her capacity as Chairman of the Planning Committee.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee, held on Wednesday 28 May 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Wednesday 28 May 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.

Councillor Sudra, who was present at the meeting in the public gallery, declared an interest in agenda item 6 (Report of the Corporate Director (Planning and Community) – A.1 – Draft Hartley Gardens Supplementary Planning Document) insofar as she was a resident of the Bluehouse Ward and a Ward Member for the Cann Hall Ward parts of both of which Wards lay within or adjacent to the area covered by the Hartley Gardens SPD.

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 the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee on any Officer report to be considered at that public meeting.

Notice of a question is received by delivering it in writing to the Town Hall or by email to Democratic Services on democraticservices@tendringdc.gov.uk, by midday on Wednesday 3^rd September 2025.

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 on the Officer report (A.1).

After the presentation of the Officer report (A.1), Martin Robeson, acting on behalf of his client, Britton Developments Ltd, the landowner of part of the Hartley Gardens allocation site made a statement. Details of that statement are contained within Minute 13 below.

To update the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee on the progress of the Hartley Gardens Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and to seek the Committee’s endorsement to recommend to Cabinet that the draft SPD be published for public consultation.

Earlier on in the meeting, as detailed under Minute 10 above, Councillor Sudra, who was present in the public gallery, had declared an interest in this item insofar as she was a resident of the Bluehouse Ward and a Ward Member for the Cann Hall Ward parts of both of which Wards lay within, or adjacent to, the area covered by the Hartley Gardens SPD.

The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director (Planning and Community) which updated it on the progress of the Hartley Gardens Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and which also sought the Committee’s endorsement to recommend to Cabinet that the draft SPD be published for public consultation purposes.

Members were reminded that Hartley Gardens was a strategic mixed-use allocation located on the northwestern edge of Clacton-on-Sea, identified in the adopted Local Plan. The site was expected to deliver approximately 1,700 new homes, including affordable housing, alongside employment land, education facilities and range of community and green infrastructure. The preparation of a SPD for Hartley Gardens marked a significant milestone in progressing the site’s delivery and in ensuring a coordinated, high-quality approach to development.

It was reported that public consultation on the draft SPD was proposed to take place during October-November 2025, subject to this Committee’s and Cabinet’s approval. The six-week consultation would include two public events and be supported by online and offline engagement methods. As Hartley Gardens was allocated in the Local Plan – having been examined and found sound by a Government Planning Inspector – the principle of development was already established. It would be important to clearly communicate that the purpose of the consultation was to provide feedback on the design and delivery framework, rather than to comment on whether the site should be developed. Officers would ensure that the consultation materials were accessible and that residents understood the scope and purpose of the SPD and the role of the consultation process.

Members were informed that the SPD had been prepared collaboratively by Tendring District Council, Essex County Council, and Homes England. The early stages of preparing the SPD and masterplan had been informed by engagement with statutory consultees, Councillors, other local stakeholders, and the public. Public drop-in events and an online questionnaire had provided valuable feedback, whilst dedicated workshops with Councillors and community stakeholders had helped shape the emerging vision and development principles. This input had played a formative role in developing the proposals and ensuring that they reflected local priorities and concerns.

It was felt that the SPD provided a comprehensive masterplan and planning framework that would guide future planning applications and infrastructure delivery. The document set out a clear vision for Hartley Gardens as a healthy, inclusive, and sustainable urban extension, with a strong sense of place and identity. It established development principles covering housing, design quality, movement and access, sustainability, and community infrastructure, supported by a detailed Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP).

The Committee was made aware that the SPD was structured to clearly set out the planning requirements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.