Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Development Plan Document (DPD)

reduced density for the Crockleford development. For context, the settlement area of Ardleigh (i.e. the centre of the village and the main development North South and West of the crossroads) is a similar area to that being proposed to be developed around Crockleford. Ardleigh’s settlement area has approximately 350 houses which equates to under 12 dwellings per hectare. The Crockleford development hub would have at least 2.5 times more dwellings i.e. 1,000, perhaps even 1,500 with a density of 30 per hectare. This is much more than the most densely populated part of Ardleigh!

We welcome the Crockleford Heath Character Appraisal Plan as it recognises the uniqueness of the area that it needs to be treated very carefully to avoid destroying it. The draft DPD begins to address this, and has included a larger than previously identified Crockleford Heath Special Character area for special treatment.
However, the problem is the density of housing being proposed. 30 dwellings per hectare (although much less than in the other hubs) is not conducive to creating a village feel to the development, which is what seems to be proposed, and is denser than all other parts of Ardleigh.

We would ask that the equivalent green space, permanently lost by the recent 145 dwellings off Bromley Road (within the original development area), should be compensated for by adding to the green spaces within the Country Park. Also, that further development, along Bromley Road should be firmly resisted. (current appeal for 14 homes with Planning Inspectorate APP/P1560/W/22/3313107)

We welcome the commitments and intent, but want to see more definition of green corridors, and recognition of the negative impact of the Bellway development on Bromley Road and adjacent to Salary Brook and compensation by extending the Country park by an equivalent space.

Chapter 4: Nature
Crockleford The DPD also recognises the wider environs and we support extending and protecting
the Wildlife corridor along Salary Brook between Churn Wood and Walls Wood as well as a new
corridor round the east side of Crockleford, up to the point where the A120 and Bromley Road meet.
We would like to see more detail relating to these Green Corridors between the three communities
and towards Colchester (Greenstead/ Longridge) and feel that these need to be defined within the
DPD documents. At present the plan is too vague, and too much is left to the developer to decide.
We welcome the early development of the new Country Park and further steps to protect the area
around Salary Brook. We would ask that the equivalent green space, permanently lost by the recent
145 dwellings off Bromley Road (within the original development area), should be compensated for
by adding to the green spaces within the Country Park. Also, that further development, along
Bromley Road should be firmly resisted. (current appeal for 14 homes with Planning Inspectorate
APP/P1560/W/22/3313107)
Serious consideration should be given to local food production for the Garden Community and the
land in the area of Crockelford Heath should be retained for this purpose rather than lost to housing.
The area has historically grown fruit and vegetables, as well as arable crops. Innovative and
sustainable initiatives should be developed for local people to grow produce with low food mileage
and with all the associated health benefits.

We would welcome a firm commitment to actively involving the existing Parish Councils (who after all represent the residents already living in the area) at all stages of discussion about stewardship options and to an appropriate element of democratic/public ownership and management of amenities and assets. Some Crockleford residents have told us that they want to stay in Ardleigh, so, for example, it shouldn’t be assumed that an entirely separate governance arrangement for this new hub is the only option.

Stewardship principles, governance and democracy It seems clear that the ‘jurisdiction’ and boundaries of the existing Parishes will need to change once the developments come to fruition.
We have asked in meetings and consultation events for details of what might be envisioned as far as governance and management of amenities and local democracy is concerned. There is no mention of local democracy in this section of the Plan and policies.

We are worried about the potential implications on and beyond Bromley Road and want to see more modelling and evidence that this can deliver the objectives and not have unintended consequences for our residents.

Our particular concern is Bromley Road. The policy states that 'The Garden Community must restrict vehicular connectivity, except for public transport and emergency vehicles, between the 'Link Road' and Bromley Road' meaning that Crockleford Hub residents will not be able to access the link road (although also meaning that residents of the other Hubs and people coming off the link road will not be able to drive to Bromley Road).

Chapter 8: Movement and Connections
Traffic impact and Bromley Road It appears that the only route that residents from the new
Crockleford Hub, which straddles the Bromley Road, would be able to use to drive to Colchester
would be along Bromley Road. Hence we remain very concerned about the impact on Bromley Road
and the ongoing routes in to Colchester and/or through Ardleigh to join the A137.
We are also concerned about the short to medium term impact on traffic through Crockleford of any
delay to the A120/A133 link road and to the rapid transport system. The DPD appears to be silent
on the memorandum of understanding reported to the Joint Committee on 27 February due to the
shortfall in funding for the Link Road, which we understood would delay the final stages of the link
road until the first buildings were underway.
Our residents are also worried about construction traffic and noise of construction particularly for
residents living on or using Bromley Road and the small lanes which connect to it. The experience of
the recent development (145 houses) at the Salary Brook end of Bromley Road has been that this
has been very disruptive indeed to residents. Any closures to parts of Clingoe Hill, or added
congestion there, will inevitably lead to the lanes through Crockleford being used as rat runs (more
than is already the case- confirmed as a current practice in the Wivenhoe Society submission).
We welcome the extension of the Rapid Transport System (RTS) in to the new Crockleford
development as this will improve connections by public transport to the other hubs and to
Colchester. We do not think there has been adequate modelling though and are sceptical as to
whether the links to Colchester will be the ones most needed/ used. For example in our
Neighbourhood Plan consultation Ardleigh residents highlighted links to Ipswich, Manningtree and
countryside and coast and to the A12 and A137 as well as proximity to Colchester as key benefits/
strengths of our Parish.
To avoid further traffic congestion on Bromley Road and the routes from it, we broadly welcome
North and South settlements not being able to drive to the Bromley Road, however, Crockleford hub
residents will not be able to access the Link Road.
We are not convinced that changes to patterns of car use will happen quicky enough to avoid serious
problems with congestion and road safety on the existing road network and the proposals seem to
be based more on hope than evidence-based expectation.

Write to residents and businesses in the development area- especially the expanded area. Or confirm when this has happened.

We are concerned that the delay to the Link Road and the phased delivery of this may undermine the claim that the project will deliver infrastructure first. This is important at very stage for credibility of the project .

Consultation regarding expanded development area A triangular area around Jubilee Lane to the northwest of the maps was added in to the development area at the final stage. There are houses and businesses in this area which had hitherto been unaware that they may form part of the Garden Community. We asked in February for these residents to be directly notified.