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 for Hartley Gardens. It began with an introduction, followed by a detailed assessment of the site and its context. The vision and objectives chapter set out the overarching aims for the development. The spatial framework (or masterplan) then identified key land uses, movement corridors, green infrastructure, and character areas. The following chapter on development principles provided detailed guidance on housing, design quality, access, sustainability, and community infrastructure to ensure consistency across all phases. This was followed by a chapter outlining the broad approach to infrastructure delivery, with further detail provided in the accompanying IDP. The SPD concluded with a section setting out the next steps towards delivering the site.

Members were informed that the masterplan divided the site into four distinct character areas, each shaped by its landscape context, proximity to heritage assets, and relationship with existing communities. The Central Character Area would form the heart of the new neighbourhood, with a mix of uses including shops, a primary school, early years provision, and community facilities. The SPD also outlined a movement strategy that prioritised active travel and public transport, alongside a hierarchy of streets and access points agreed in principle with Essex County Council.

The Committee was cognisant that the SPD and IDP identified the infrastructure requirements of the development. This included strategic infrastructure for the whole development such as a new primary school, early years and childcare facilities, healthcare, and highways improvements, and site-specific infrastructure that would be delivered on individual development parcels such as local open spaces and on-plot utilities provision. The open space network for the whole site would provide interesting and varied environments for exercising and dog walking, which would minimise the need for residents to make daily trips to more sensitive areas of the District.

Members were advised that, following the consultation, the Planning Policy Team would assess all representations and prepare a final version of the SPD for adoption by Cabinet. Once adopted, the SPD would become a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and would support the delivery of housing targets in the emerging Local Plan Review. The first planning application for the site was expected to be lodged in early 2026, with delivery anticipated to begin in 2029.

The Committee was aware that accelerating housing delivery was a key priority for the Government, and that Hartley Gardens was expected to make a significant contribution to meeting the District’s housing needs over the next 20 years and beyond. Following Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), the requirements set out in the SPD would remain a material consideration for any future applications determined by the new Unitary Authority. This would ensure continuity in planning guidance and support the long-term delivery of the site.

Following the introduction of the report by the Planning Policy Team Leader (Paul Woods), Martin Robeson, acting on behalf of his client, Britton Developments Ltd, the landowner of part of the Hartley Gardens development allocation site, made a statement to the Committee. That statement touched on the following matters:-

·      Britton Developments Ltd.’s (“Britton”) previous developments in the vicinity of the Hartley Gardens location;

·      Britton owned land alongside the A133 that connected into Brook Park West that would be critical to any future development;

·      Britton was the only active developer in that area;

·      Britton had concerns and criticisms on the role and intentions of Homes England and the Greenwich Hospital Trust including the view that their proposals would risk the employment land and would likely make the houses and infrastructure costs unaffordable;

·      Britton would make extensive representations on the Council’s SPD during the consultation period;

·      Britton could deliver a development of 300 homes immediately and at much less cost; and

·      Britton supported the intentions of the SPD but felt that it still required a lot of work.

With the permission of the Chairman, Councillor Sudra, a Ward Member for the Cann Hall Ward, addressed the Committee on the subject matter of this item. Councillor Sudra highlighted that the provision of the necessary infrastructure (e.g. employmentland, health facilities, school provision, road access and capacity, connectivity and public transport provision) together with the potential loss of green fields would be a key concern for local residents (and potential new residents on this site).

The Planning Policy Team Leader (Paul Woods) then responded to Mr. Robeson’s and Councillor Sudra’s statements.

Mr. Woods then responded to the following questions/concerns/queries et cetera from Members:-

·      the SPD should take into account the ongoing community governance review and the future role of a potential Clacton Town Council in stewardship matters;

·      concerned about the juxtaposition of timing and phasing of this development and that at Rouses Farm as the latter development would also include the provision of a new primary school and the upgrading of the junction of Jaywick Lane and St. John’s Road;

·      will the Hartley Gardens development start at the north end or the south end?

·      when will the primary school for Hartley Gardens be provided?

·      worried that there is too many unknowns and too much out of this Council’s control;

·      concern at how the threshold for creating the new primary school will be met if the development is created piecemeal through several planning applications by different developers;

·      point out that if the development starts at the north end of the site then access will be via a circular loop so therefore would like to see the whole spine road put in place at the start of the development;

·      there was a need to ensure that pre-school provision was in place before the need for the primary school and take into account the long term implications for local secondary schools;

·      would advocate including further improvements to the B1027 / St. John’s Road as part of any planning permission for this site to help deal with the expected increase in road traffic;

·      what conversations are taking place now to address any potential future flooding issues for Pickers Ditch, including use allocations within the flood zones;

·      nervous about the level of future Government investment / interest in this development through Homes England over what will be a significant period of time and that therefore the infrastructure may be provided piecemeal.

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning (Councillor Baker) commented on the subject matter of this item as follows:-

·      thanked the Committee for their very interesting comments and debate;

·      echoed the Committee’s commendation of Mr. Woods and his Team on the work that had gone into producing the SPD;

·      took on board and would take forward the points made about Pickers Ditch and flood risk; and

·      looked forward to the public consultation and would urge residents to engage in the process.

Having duly taken all the above information into account and having discussed the matter:-

It was moved by Councillor White, seconded by Councillor Fairley and unanimously:-

RESOLVED that the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee recommends to Cabinet that the Hartley Gardens Draft Supplementary Planning Document (August 2025) and associated evidence base (listed as Background Documents) be published for consultation with residents and other interested stakeholders.