Local Plan - Submission Version (Regulation 19)

Foreword

We are pleased to present the Submission Version of the Tendring District Local Plan Review 2026–2043 and Beyond – the proposed blueprint for future growth in our District and the rulebook of policies that will apply to the determination of planning applications.

This document sets out the Council’s vision for the future of the District and provides the framework for how Tendring can respond to the opportunities and challenges of the years ahead. It establishes where new homes, jobs, services and infrastructure should be located, how development should be designed, and how we will protect and enhance the landscapes, heritage, coastline and natural environment that make Tendring such a special place to live, work and visit.

The preparation of this Local Plan has taken place against a backdrop of significant change. Since the adoption of the current Local Plan, national planning policy has evolved considerably, including the introduction of much higher mandatory housing requirements. As a result, the Council is now required to plan for a level of growth substantially greater than previously anticipated. Whilst we have consistently highlighted the challenges that these requirements present for a district such as ours, we also recognise our responsibility to plan positively for the future and to ensure that growth is managed in a coordinated, sustainable and infrastructure-led way.

Doing nothing is not an option. Without an up-to-date Local Plan, decisions about the future of our communities would increasingly be shaped by speculative development proposals and planning appeals rather than by a clear, locally determined strategy. This Local Plan seeks to provide that strategy, giving residents, businesses, developers and infrastructure providers greater certainty about how the District should grow and change over the coming decades.

The Plan has been informed by extensive research, technical evidence and engagement with communities, stakeholders and partner organisations. The public consultation on the Preferred Options draft generated significant interest and participation from residents, businesses, community groups, Town and Parish Councils and statutory consultees. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to engage in the process. The comments received have helped shape the evolution of the Plan and have informed changes to policies and proposals as work has progressed.

At its heart, this Local Plan is about achieving the right balance. It seeks to deliver the homes that people need, support investment and job creation, secure new and improved infrastructure, and address the challenges of climate change, whilst protecting the distinctive character of our towns and villages, safeguarding important landscapes and habitats, and preserving the qualities that make Tendring unique.

The decisions contained within this Plan are among the most important that the Council will make. They will influence how places evolve, how communities are connected, and how future generations experience the District long after the Plan itself has been adopted. With Local Government Reorganisation on the horizon, this Local Plan is likely to be the last one prepared by Tendring District Council and therefore represents an important opportunity to shape the long-term future of our area and establish a positive legacy for those who follow.

We would like to thank all residents, businesses, community groups, Town and Parish Councils, partner organisations, elected Members and Council Officers who have contributed to the preparation of this Local Plan. Through continued collaboration, we can ensure that Tendring remains a place where people and communities can prosper whilst continuing to protect the qualities that define our District.

Cllr. Andy Baker

Portfolio Holder for Housing & Planning

Cllr. Carlo Guglielmi

Chairman of the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee