Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community

The Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community is a joint project between Tendring District Council, Colchester City Council and Essex County Council.  

The TCBGC Hybrid Planning Application is now valid and available for the public to view on the Tendring District Council Public Access System at the following link: Public Access. Please use application number 26/00424/TCBGC.

The application is also available to view on Colchester City Council’s website at the following link: Planning Search and the application number is 260386.

Further details on the TCBGC can be found at https://talk.tcbgardencommunity.co.uk/

Details of the TCBGC Development Plan Document can be found here: Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community DPD

FAQ

A planning application for Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community was submitted to Tendring District Council and Colchester City Council by Latimer in March 2026. The Councils are consulting on this planning application until 22 May 2026, and all comments should be made through Tendring District Council.

Where is the TCB Garden Community?

The Garden Community site lies to the east of Colchester, adjacent to Greenstead to the west, and Elmstead Market to the east. The site sits between the A120 to the north and the A133 to the south, and lies within both Tendring District and Colchester City Council boundaries.

What is a Garden Community?

A Garden Community is a large scale development comprising thousands of new homes and supporting infrastructure and facilities. A key aspect that sets Garden Communities apart from other forms of development is their size and the opportunities that this can bring to embed sustainability at all levels of development – from the high energy efficiency of new homes to walkable neighbourhoods and ability to provide infrastructure first..

They represent a change in approach to the traditional delivery of major or significant development. A Garden Community is designed to follow the Town and Country Planning Association Garden City Principles, creating places that provide attractive and well-designed environments for people to live, work, visit and play.

What are the Garden City Principles?

The Garden City Principles are a framework for the delivery of Garden Communities, and include:

• Land value capture for the benefit of the community.
• Strong vision, leadership and community engagement.
• Community ownership of land and long-term stewardship of assets.
• Mixed-tenure homes and housing types that are genuinely affordable.
• A wide range of local jobs in the Garden City within easy commuting distance of homes.
• Beautifully and imaginatively designed homes with gardens, combining the best of town and country to create healthy communities, and including opportunities to grow food.
• Development that enhances the natural environment, providing a comprehensive green infrastructure network and net biodiversity gains, and that uses zero-carbon and energy-positive technology to ensure climate resilience.
• Strong cultural, recreational and shopping facilities in walkable, vibrant, sociable neighbourhoods.
• Integrated and accessible transport systems, with walking, cycling and public transport designed to be the most attractive forms of local transport.

How will the planning application be assessed?

The application will be assessed against national and local planning policies. The North Essex Authorities’ Shared Strategic Section 1 Plan (2021) sets out the principle for a Garden Community, identifies the broad location of the Garden Community and sets out the Strategic Policies and the overarching requirements and expectations that it will need to meet.

In 2025, the Tendring Colchester Borders Development Plan Document (DPD) was adopted, which contains policies setting out how the Garden Community will be designed, developed and delivered in phases. The DPD replaces TDC and CCC Section 2 Local Plans for the site allocation area.

The Tendring Colchester Borders Development Plan Document (DPD) can be found here: Development Plan Document (DPD)

The application will be decided by the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Joint Committee. The committee dates and relevant reports will be made available on the Committee pages of both the Tendring District Council and Colchester City Council websites at the appropriate time. Information relating to public speaking is also available.

How can I view the planning application?

You can view and submit your comments on the Tendring District Council Public Access System at the following link: Simple Search (External link). Please use application number 26/00424/TCBGC.

Anyone may, up to and including the expiry date, send representations about the application to Tendring District Council on line via “View Planning Applications and Comment” at www.tendringdc.gov.uk, by email to dcadmin.planning@tendringdc.gov.uk or by letter to the Head of Planning, at the Council Offices, Clacton on Sea, CO15 1SE.

How can I have my say?

We encourage members of the community to take part in the consultation process as public feedback is an important part of ensuring that planning decisions reflect both local needs and planning policy.

Tendring District Council is coordinating the consultation on behalf of both councils. Residents of Colchester should also submit their comments via the Tendring District Council Public Access System (External link).

The deadline to submit comments is 22 May 2026.

Please note that it will not be possible to acknowledge, nor respond to individual comments or enter into further correspondence. To keep you up to date on any changes to the application and ensure future notifications and consultations can be undertaken, your comments and personal data may be shared between the Authorities.

Further details about how your data is handled can be found in our privacy notices by following this link Data Protection and Privacy. Advice and information about the type of matters that can be considered, can be found here TDC Advice On Representations

What is a hybrid planning application?

A hybrid planning application seeks both full and outline planning permission for different aspects of development on the same site. In the case of the TCB Garden Community, the hybrid application consists of a detailed component (the full application portion) for an area of the site comprising an initial residential development and commercial space, along with a temporary park and choose, meanwhile garden and the first phase of Salary Brook Country Park. The main aspect of the submitted application is an outline application, with all matters reserved, meaning these points of principle will need to be considered in later applications. Reserved matters can include appearance, means of access, landscaping, layout, and scale.

What information has been submitted?

The Tendring Colchester Borders Development Plan Document (DPD Link) sets out the requirements for the range of information which needs to be submitted as part of an application for the Garden Community, along with the national and local validation requirements.

The applicant has submitted a covering letter which outlines the extent of documents which have been provided, which can be found on the Tendring District Council Public Access System (External link). Please use application number: 26/00424/TCBGC.

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