Local Plan - Preferred Options Consultation Document (Reg18)
Consultation Information
- Draft Local Plan PDF (download an offline version of the draft Local Plan)
- Online Map Portal (view an interactive version of the proposals maps)
- Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment (download offline versions of these documents)
- Evidence Base (access background document and technical studies)
Tendring District Council is carrying out a review of the Tendring District Local Plan to ensure it remains up to date, effective, and capable of guiding development in the District up to 2042.
The Council is now publishing the Tendring District Local Plan Review 2025-2042 and Beyond Preferred Options Consultation Document January 2026 and associated Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment as part of the Regulation 18 stage of consultation. This marks the second formal opportunity for residents, businesses, community organisations, landowners, developers, and all other interested parties to comment on the emerging proposals.
This consultation sets out the Council’s preferred policy approaches and the sites proposed for future residential, employment, and mixed-use development. We welcome feedback both in support of and objecting to the proposals, as well as any alternative suggestions.
The consultation runs for just over six weeks, from Monday 9 February 2026 until 5pm on Monday 23 March 2026.
Where You Can View the Consultation Documents
Please use the Table of Contents at the top of this page to navigate to the different chapters of the draft Local Plan.
| What you may want to know | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Where development should go across the district | Chapter 3 Sustainable Places |
| Health, wellbeing, open spaces and community facilities | Chapter 4 Healthy Places |
| Homes: how many, what types, affordable housing and specialist accommodation | Chapter 5 Living Places |
| Jobs, employment, tourism and town centres | Chapter 6 Prosperous Places |
| Nature, landscape, wildlife, heritage, flooding and climate change | Chapter 7 Protected Places |
| Transport, roads, walking, cycling and digital connectivity |
Chapter 8
Connected Places
|
| Where new housing and employment sites are proposed (including Garden Villages) |
Chapter 9
Delivering Places
|
| Schools, healthcare, utilities and other infrastructure |
Chapter 10
Delivering Infrastructure
|
| Districtwide maps showing all policy designations and allocations |
Chapter 12
Policies Maps
|
| Maps for individual towns and villages |
Appendix B
Local Maps
|
Paper copies can also be inspected at:
- Public libraries across the District (during usual opening hours)
- Clacton Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea (during usual opening hours)
The Local Plan maps can also be viewed through our online map portal. To turn map layers on or off, please click the Layer List button on the top-right of your screen.
Create an account with your email address to submit your comment; your details are stored securely so you only need to provide them once. Responses can be submitted by clicking the Comment button next to each of the Local Plan policies. Further instructions are available in the help guide located at the bottom of each page.
If you are unable to respond online:
- Paper response forms are available at public libraries and at Clacton Town Hall.
- You can download and print an offline version of the representation form.
Completed paper forms or written comments in other formats (such as letters or emails) should be returned to: Planning Policy, Tendring District Council, Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1SE or emailed to: planning.policy@tendringdc.gov.uk
Consultation Events
The Council will be holding a series of public drop-in events where Planning Officers will be available to explain the proposals and assist with the consultation process.
| Thurs 26th February | Brightlingsea |
Brightlingsea Parish Hall |
3pm – 7pm |
| Sat 28th February | Weeley |
St Andrew’s C of E Primary School |
10am – 2pm |
|
Thurs 5th March |
Frinton |
Frinton Community Association, Soken House |
3pm – 7pm |
| Mon 9th March | Lawford |
Venture Centre 2000 |
3pm – 7pm |
| Wed 11 March | Harwich |
1912 Centre |
3pm – 7pm |
Deadline for Responses
All representations must be received no later than 5pm on Monday 23 March 2026.
Further information
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in producing summaries of the content of representations submitted during Local Plan consultations. These tools are only used to summarise the themes and issues raised and are used in accordance with the Council’s Artificial Intelligence Best Practice Approach document. AI will not be used to analyse or make decisions based on any personal data, and all consultation-related Local Plan decision-making will be undertaken by Council officers and elected Members of the Council.
The Councils Privacy Notice can be found at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/privacy
For questions or further assistance, please contact the Planning Policy Team:
Telephone: (01255) 686177
Email: planning.policy@tendringdc.gov.uk
