A 6 day hearing chaired by Planning Inspector Roger Clews was held in January to look at Stage 1 of the plan to build three vast garden communities in North Essex over the next thirty years. Tendring, Colchester and Braintree District Councils have put together plans to build 9,000 homes in East Colchester, 24,000 homes West of Marks Tey, and 13,000 at Andrews Airfield, West of Braintree. The hearing was extremely well-attended by members of the public who came to hear arguments for and against the plans put by North Essex councillors, planning consultants, and campaigning groups.

Rosie Pearson and William Sunnucks representing CAUSE (Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex) certainly made a forceful impression, particularly in attacking the lack of required infrastructure and the financial unsustainability of the West Tey plan.

Other objections concerned the pressure these plans would put on current road and rail services, hospitals, GP services, and the natural environment.

There was also a legal objection from LightWood Strategic who are pushing for an alternative development over the Holfield Estate to build 7,000 homes next to Pattiswick and Monks Wood. Lightwood felt that Braintree Council had failed to consider their proposal adequately. The Inspector has therefore scheduled one more day – 9th May 2018.