Residents across Tendring are being asked to have their final say on the district’s Local Plan — the blueprint for where more than 18,000 new homes, plus jobs, infrastructure and community facilities should go over the next 17 years.

Tendring District Council (TDC) approved the submission version of the Local Plan Review for public consultation at a meeting on Tuesday (1 September).

The six-week consultation will run from Monday, 7 September until Monday, 19 October and will include five face-to-face consultation events across the district in late September and early October, alongside opportunities to respond online.

It will be the last chance for residents, businesses, community groups, landowners and other interested parties to comment before the plan is submitted to Government for independent examination.

The review has been prepared against the Government’s mandatory housebuilding targets, which require Tendring to plan for 1,069 homes a year — 18,173 homes between 2026 and 2043.

Around 10,211 homes are expected on sites carried forward from the last Local Plan, including the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community and strategic sites around Clacton, as well as sites already under construction.

To meet the remaining need for about 8,000 homes, the proposals include garden villages at Hare Green, Horsley Cross and Weeley, a major expansion of Harwich, and growth around existing towns, villages and railway stations.

The previous consultation, held in the Spring, attracted more than 620 responses and saw around 700 people speak directly to planning officers, raising issues including transport, infrastructure, schools, healthcare, countryside impacts, jobs and affordable homes.

That feedback has helped shape the latest version, with changes including the deletion of some proposed sites, including plans for 300 homes east of Church Road, Brightlingsea, and 200 homes off Arthur Ransome Way, Walton, while the allocation at Thorpe-le-Soken has been cut to 70 homes after primary school capacity issues ruled out larger-scale growth in the village.

Councillor Carlo Guglielmi, Chairman of TDC’s Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee, said: “This Local Plan represents years of hard work in the face of significant challenges, including changing national policy and demanding housing targets set by Government.

“Our officers have worked hard to produce a credible plan that gives Tendring the best chance of retaining local control over future development.

“We are now ready to move to the final public consultation, giving residents, stakeholders and statutory bodies the chance to comment before the plan is submitted for independent examination.”

This consultation is different from earlier stages. Comments need to focus on whether the Local Plan meets legal requirements and the Government’s tests for being sound.

Only comments submitted during this final consultation will be passed to the independent Planning Inspector. Anyone who wants their views considered by the Inspector will need to submit them again, even if they commented earlier.

Councillor Andy Baker, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, added: “We know there are strong views about growth, infrastructure and the impact of development, and we have listened carefully to the feedback given so far.

“This is a more technical stage, but it is no less important. It is the point at which people can say whether they believe the plan is legally compliant and sound.

“The Government’s housing targets mean difficult decisions have had to be made, but having an up-to-date Local Plan gives Tendring the best chance of managing growth properly, securing infrastructure and resisting speculative development.”

After the consultation, the council intends to submit the Local Plan to the Secretary of State later this year for independent examination by a Planning Inspector.

To take part in the consultation, which opens on Monday, 7 September, go to https://tendringdc.oc2.uk/document/72

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the first public hearing, a fantastic show of local passion and resistance! Whilst we may never get those two hours back and the councils tone was largely defeated and toothless - there are plenty of steps we can take next!

Below is a comprehensive outline of action steps and inspiration steps we can take next as a community to save our beloved green space, animal habitats, local community identity and future for our children and grandchildren.  

NOW, we need to start local action, so here is how.....“From Concern to Collective Power”

1, MAKE THE MOVEMENT VISIBLE

“If You Care About This Place — Show It.”
Hundreds of people turned up because they care. Now let’s make that care visible. We’re launching a simple poster campaign that residents can print at home and display in windows, cars and shops. Visibility matters. When support becomes visible, confidence grows. A few posters start conversations. Fifty posters change perception. Download the poster pack from a folder HERE and help make this movement impossible to ignore, feel free to use artwork and logos included to add to your socials and artwork. (if you need help printing use the Facebook community, let's help each other). 

KEEP SHARING THE PETITION on all Social media platforms. 

2. BUILD OUR DIGITAL COMMUNITY HUB

“One Place. One Voice. Clear Information.”
To keep communication organised and factual, we’re launching a dedicated Facebook group. This will be the central place to share wildlife sightings, planning updates, evidence, historical photos and stories. Please join, invite neighbours, and help us keep discussions constructive and focused on facts. A connected community is a stronger community. - Post your questions, pictures and grievances here, build a larger community in a polite and constructive manor - We represent a growing community and a considerable 'voting' block! We will reach past 2000 signature by march! Let's use Facebook to build our community now! 

OUR FACEBOOK GROUP WILL BE LIVE FROM 'MONDAY 2nd MARCH'  - LINKS WILL BE SENT TO EVERYONE.  

3. TURN WALKERS INTO RECORDERS

“Every Daily Walk Is Now an Ecological Survey.”

The developments must meet a minimum biodiversity net GAIN of 10% - with the local council looking at 20% - we must report the wildlife directly into the local data set - this will help charities and national support increase - without data the developers assessment can be swift and convenient for them - if EVERYONE submits evidence to the Essex Filed Club - officially documenting everything from plants, insects, moths, bats, badgers, rabbits, newts etc - the need for a prolonged seasonal assessment is necessary - not just a convenient once-over - but specialist evaluation (full information on how to collect and upload information is here - HOW TO SUBMIT INFO )

A list of all the local animal, bird and insect species to be looking for and reporting can be found HERE

Dog walkers, ramblers, bird watchers, cyclists — you are already out there every day. By recording what you see and submitting sightings properly, we build real scientific evidence of the biodiversity in this area. We’ll be encouraging small local recording groups to walk together, document responsibly and submit findings to the county database. The more records we have, the stronger our case becomes. Detailed information on how you can submit sightings reports , pictures and evidence is attached! Repost on Facebook and help others to collect and submit information! 

ONCE the data is uploaded to the Essex Filed Club - these are the LIST of UK Charities to contact with your concerns - LINK

4. LET OUR CHILDREN SPEAK

“The Next Generation Deserves a Voice.”
We are inviting local primary school children to create drawings, paintings, poems and letters celebrating the wildlife and green spaces they love. These will be respectfully presented to councillors as a reminder that this is not just about land — it’s about legacy. When children express what matters to them, it shifts the conversation from development numbers to future stewardship. If you are connected to education, teachers, PTAs etc and share our passion for the local environment  - HELP us get primary children to raise their voices - after all its there future! 

A package of artwork, poems and local voices will be packaged up and delivered to Nigel Farage & HRH King Charles. 

5. STRENGTHENING OUR POSITION

“Evidence, Not Emotion.”
We are compiling wildlife records, community turnout numbers, and case studies from other UK communities who successfully influenced development decisions. This ensures our position remains measured, informed and credible. Strong campaigns are built on facts. Attached are some examples of SUCCESSFUL campaigns that pushed back in the UK! This takes community, effort and passion and determination. 

6. LOCAL PRESSURE - Businesses & Land Owners

Many key local businesses and land owners were not present voices at the meeting, these are people with a lot of influence over the local areas and decision makers -  reach out to these companies and organisations, many of which have been supported by the community for many years - ask them what they will do to HELP PROTECT and PRESERVE our communities and ecology for years to come. 

7. NATIONAL PRESSURE - Politicians 

Challenge bureaucracy and government over-reach! 

WE are growing into a credible 'voting' block locally - the more action and involvement the  more strength we have! 

REMIND our elected representatives why they are elected, our tax money pays for them to represent us - ask them what steps, both politically and legally have been explored to push back, ask them  - will all financial information been released to the public in relation to acquisition of land, who benefits! Lets ensure that all activity is legal, safe and will be held to the highest standard of scrutiny! - ( Any local lawyers please use the Facebook page to express interest or case-study information).

Office of Nigel Farage  - nigel.farage.mp@parliament.uk

8. EXPAND our reach - Thorpe, Walton & Beyond

It was refreshing to hear concern and support from the representative for Thorpe  - another small traditional English village - our neighbors - who will also feel the pressure of more traffic, pressure on schools, doctors, parking, strained transport networks, a flow of materials and heavy goods for years to come as massive development expand. Let's build the community  - our children share schools, we share the roads, environment and community - we should stand united to protect them. We need community more than ever in the UK! 

9. ENCOURAGE OUR WILDLIFE

Protecting our green spaces isn’t only about opposing inappropriate development — it’s also about actively strengthening the wildlife that already lives here. We’re encouraging residents to consider installing simple habitat supports such as bat boxes, hedgehog houses, bird boxes and insect hotels in gardens and shared spaces. These small actions create safe nesting, roosting and feeding opportunities for species that are increasingly under pressure. When multiplied across hundreds of homes, they form a connected network of micro-habitats that genuinely improve local biodiversity. If you have a garden, wall, fence or tree, you have the opportunity to make a difference.

FIRST LOCAL MEETING REVIEW  - 

Many great contributions were made during the meeting, comments about, infrastructure, protected trees, sewage and drainage, social housing allocation, schools, roads, doctors, emergency services  - From March 2nd - USE the Facebook forum to continue this, support with evidence, case study and help build a bigger picture of this issue we face  - BEFORE new houses we need many other areas discussed and addressed! 

DIRECT CONTACT  - kirbycrossresidentsgroup@gmail.com

Please reach out with ideas, enquiries and questions, if any of the links are not working or you want additional resources. 

We will use the Facebook page to move from the Change.org platform into a more public forum, where we can link to other social networks, charities, politicians, communities in Essex and build the resistance. Resistance starts at home but momentum build when we find common ground with like minds. We will not be simple rolled over by a failing government - they need to hear our voices across Essex! 

PLEASE NOTE - IF YOU CAN NOT DOWNLOAD THE DOCUMENTS USING THE LINKS ABOVE - TRY THE LINKS BELOW 

POSTERS + LOGOS ​

FULL ANIMAL + SPECIES LISTS FOR AREA​

HOW TO SUBMIT SIGHTINGS INFO TO ESSEX FIELD CLUB​

LIST+CONTACTS FOR NATIONAL UK CHARITIES​ 

CASE STUDIES

There is a lot of positives to take home from the first public meeting and the success of our petition so far, we do have a community and we can organize and  push back against policy decisions and greed! 

PLEASE KEEP UP the pressure, protest peacefully and constructively and share the petition, Facebook group, organize local meet ups and put up posters!!