To seek Cabinet’s approval for the Clacton Town Centre Culture-Led Framework (Clacton Thriving) to proceed to public consultation, prior to its consideration for formal adoption. The report sets out a vision for the future of Clacton-on-Sea and identifies a range of interventions to support the regeneration of the town centre.

RESOLVED that Cabinet -

(a)     formally approves the Draft Clacton Town Centre Culture-Led Framework (Clacton Thriving), as set out in Appendix A to report A.4 and the accompanying Draft Action Plan, as set out in Appendix B to report A.4, for public consultation for a period of 8 weeks;

(b)     requests that the consultation period commences on 17^th August 2026, and authorises the Portfolio Holder for Arts, Culture & Heritage to approve the consultation arrangements, prior to its commencement; and

(c)     notes that the outcome of the consultation will be taken into consideration with the final documents when they are submitted to Cabinet for adoption in due course.

Cabinet considered a report of the Economic Growth, Regeneration & Tourism Portfolio Holder (A.4) which sought its approval for the Clacton Town Centre Culture-Led Framework (Clacton Thriving) to proceed to public consultation, prior to its consideration for formal adoption. The report also set out a vision for the future of Clacton-on-Sea and identified a range of interventions to support the regeneration of the town centre.

Community Regeneration Partnership

Cabinet was aware that the Ten_14 Culture-Led Framework formed part of the Government-funded Community Regeneration Partnership (CRP) programme for Clacton and Jaywick. The project had been identified through the Government’s “Deep Dive” review of the area in 2024 and had been included within the package of regeneration projects selected by Ministers for investment.

Members were reminded that, on 20 December 2024, Cabinet had accepted the CRP funding and commenced delivery. The Ten_14 Culture-Led Framework had received total revenue funding of £100,000 and the detailed brief and approach for delivering the project had been set out in the Project Initiation Document (PID) approved by Officers, in August 2025, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Arts, Culture and Heritage. The design consultants, Publica, had been appointed in August 2025 which had represented a successful defrayment of funds.

Regeneration Context

It was reported that this Culture-Led Framework sat within the wider context of significant regeneration activity underway across Clacton, supported by a range of Government-funded programmes including the Community Regeneration Partnership and the Clacton Civic Quarter project. Those initiatives shared a common ambition to strengthen the town centre, improve the public realm, support economic growth and enhance quality of life for residents.

The Framework also supported the ambitions of the Clacton’s Pride in Place programme by providing a clear strategic basis for future investment within the funded Pride in Place Regeneration Plan and beyond, helping to coordinate regeneration activity, attract external funding and ensure that projects contributed to a coherent long-term vision for the town centre. The Framework was also an opportunity to connect the multiple Government-funded regeneration projects underway in the town centre, to ensure they worked together to deliver best impacts for local communities.

Lastly, the Framework built upon and complemented the Council’s Creative and Cultural Strategy (2019-2024) by translating its strategic ambitions into a place-based vision for Clacton town centre. The Framework used culture as a catalyst for regeneration, supporting priorities around economic growth, town centre vitality, community wellbeing, participation, heritage, creativity and place-making. In doing so, it provided a spatial and delivery-focused approach to achieving the wider objectives set out within the Council’s Creative and Cultural Strategy and related regeneration programmes. The Framework would also inform the update of the Creative and Cultural strategy that was currently under development.

Work to Date

Cabinet was informed that the Culture-Led Framework had been prepared as part of the Community Regeneration Partnership programme and provided an overarching vision and spatial framework for the future regeneration of Clacton Town Centre. Developed by Publica Associates on behalf of the Council, the Framework built on extensive evidence gathering, the review of previous studies and strategies, baseline analysis, and engagement with residents, businesses, cultural organisations and stakeholders.

The Framework was structured around five interrelated themes: Open Spaces; “High Street”; Civic and Culture; Community Participation; and Governance. Those themes were translated into a series of spatial strategies, projects and practical interventions that sought to strengthen connections across the town centre, improve the quality of the public realm, support local businesses, increase cultural activity and encourage greater community participation.

The Framework adopted a Culture-Led approach to regeneration, recognising the role that culture, creativity and community activity could play in supporting economic growth, improving wellbeing, increasing civic pride and creating a more vibrant and attractive town centre.

It was intended to provide a long-term direction for future investment and project development whilst identifying a range of short-term opportunities and deliverable interventions that could contribute towards the wider regeneration ambitions for Clacton. As such, the Framework would inform the Clacton Town Board’s plans for the town under Pride in Place; the longer term plans in the Framework were not funded and would require external investment, most likely from Government.

Next Steps

Public Consultation:

To undertake public consultation in September 2026 on the draft Culture-Led Framework and associated Action Plan to ensure that the proposals secured community support and developed a strong sense of ownership as delivery progressed. It was intended that public consultation would run in conjunction with Pride in Place to ensure a cohesive approach to both projects.

Consultation activity would include attendance at key public events, supported by target promotion through the Council’s communications channels, including press releases, e-newsletters and social media. As the document, once adopted, would have weight in planning terms, this consultation provided an opportunity to join up with consultation on the Local Plan.

Adoption:

Following public consultation, the Final Report and accompanying Action Plan would be presented to Cabinet for formal adoption.

The PID had originally envisaged adoption of the framework as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). However, this was no longer feasible in the light of the Government’s ongoing Planning reforms, which would replace SPDs with ‘Supplementary Plans’ under a revised plan-making system.

Notwithstanding this, the Culture-led Framework and Action Plan would be taken forward for formal adoption as a non-statutory document. Once adopted, it could be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications where relevant, providing a strategic framework to inform regeneration, place-making and investment within Clacton town centre. The Framework was being prepared with a view to informing decision-making in the town both in advance of, and following, Local Government Reorganisation.

To support the Council’s ambition to bring about economic regeneration, improve quality of life, and address socio-economic issues in Clacton-on-Sea through the preparation of a Culture-Led Framework that advanced the objectives for growth set out in the Council’s Local Plan and the Council’s Corporate Priorities:-

It was moved by Councillor Henderson, seconded by Councillor Stephenson and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet -

(a)     formally approves the Draft Clacton Town Centre Culture-Led Framework (Clacton Thriving), as set out in Appendix A to report A.4 and the accompanying Draft Action Plan, as set out in Appendix B to report A.4, for public consultation for a period of 8 weeks;

(b)     requests that the consultation period commences on 17^th August 2026, and authorises the Portfolio Holder for Arts, Culture & Heritage to approve the consultation arrangements, prior to its commencement; and

(c)     notes that the outcome of the consultation will be taken into consideration with the final documents when they are submitted to Cabinet for adoption in due course.