Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Development Plan Document (DPD)

Simply abandon the project!

I cannot support this development simply because it is to be sited on Grade 1 Agricultural land. In fact one of the few areas of land in the Eastern region that is designated so.
See the following link...
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/127056?category=5954148537204736

Why on earth chose a vast area of our precious, prime growing land to build thousands of houses on, unbelievable!

Vehicular access only available via the A120, no access to the A133, apart from public transport, cycles, footpaths etc.

A look at any recent new development confirms the fact that most individual properties have at least one car, more often two. There are no peak time queques at local bus stops and most buses seem to run well below capacity. 7,500 houses, so maybe 10,000 cars at least. This link road will feed into the already congested Clinghoe Hill / Greenstead Roundabout area as it combines with the A133. In addition the University is expanding, creating additional traffic.

People will always use the most convienient mode of transport and whilst I applaud the desire to encourage more sustainable modes of transport, not all journeys are local or are achievable by many folk.

Consider alternative urban planting where appropriate.

I truly hope this project does not come to fruition, BUT if it does then please consider the opportunity to think totally differently about residential and urban planting. You can walk onto any new development in this country and see the same unimaginative planting schemes, using the same range of plants along with far to much mown grass and a few sparsley planted trees, many of which just slowly die! This is so uninspiring and deemed low maintance, with contracters coming in occasionally to cut the grass. These areas offer fantastic opportunities to provide a food source and habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including butterflies, bumble bees, solitary bees and a multitude of less obvious insects, which in turn provide a food source for creatures higer up the food chain.

I urge those in charge to visit Landswoods Chattowood development the other side of Elmstead to see what is possible. Here, in many areas there are no grass verges, but a fantastic array of insect friendly shrubs and plants, planted in a substrate of sand and gravel (locally sourced). Chosen to survive dry conditions, there is no watering once established, little weeding as the dry, sandy soil discourages weeds (and no noisy, polluting mowing or strimming). A small maintance team manages this planting, so instead of siting on a lawnmower or dressing up in ppc to strim or spray, they actual use and develop their horticultural skills in caring for plants.

Swale ponds are another area in which to introduce a range of plants in order to increase the biodiversity of what are by design a hole in the ground with mown banks, no plants allowed as they would get in the way of the lawnmowing/strimming. A few carefully chosen plants here can transform the wildlife diversity and aesthetics.

I do think the development is flawed on so many levels, as I have commented on elsewhere, but if it does go ahead then what an opportunity to create a true "Garden Village"