Jaywick Sands has great potential — a proud place with community spirit that’s driving forward real change.
While the latest Indices of Multiple Deprivation may highlight the scale of the challenge, they don’t reflect the progress made since 2019 or the strength of the people who call Jaywick Sands home.
Partners including Tendring District Council (TDC), Essex County Council (ECC), the NHS and local community groups have worked together to deliver real change - from building flood-resilient homes and launching the award-winning Sunspot business hub, to supporting mental health hubs in schools, improving health via the Healthy Homes initiative and securing £2million to upgrade parks and play areas.
These are important steps, but we know the issues are complex — shaped by long-term health inequalities, limited job opportunities, and barriers to education and employment.
And we have a long-term plan to do more – guided by the Jaywick Sands Place Plan, a blueprint backed by 86 per cent of those consulted, which sets out practical steps to improve housing, flood defences, transport and public spaces, with both short-term wins and long-term goals.
Councillor Mark Stephenson, Leader of TDC, said: “Jaywick Sands is a truly special place — full of heart, pride and real community spirit.
“Together with local residents, we’ve made real progress and have a bold plan to go even further. But we cannot do this alone – we need Government to do its part.
“We’re calling for £100million of national flood funding to be allocated to Jaywick Sands, and for a cross-departmental taskforce to help resolve the policy barriers that hold our community back.
“Jaywick Sands deserves a future that matches its spirit — and we’re ready to work with residents, national government, and the new Essex Mayor from 2026, to make that happen.”
Councillor Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Regeneration at Essex County Council, said: “We have worked closely with Tendring District Council to make sure Jaywick Sands gets continued investment so its residents and businesses can thrive.
“This includes the launch of the Jaywick and District Energy Hub, Jaywick Sands Community Supermarket, The Sunspot business centre and many more projects and partnerships all focused on creating a good quality of life.
“More widely across the district we have launched Tendring Future Skills, a joint venture with the University of Essex and East of England Energy Group to empower residents and boost employment. £18 million has also been committed to transport improvements across Tendring as part of the Levelling Up fund.
“Real progress has been made however we must keep working to ensure no part of Essex is left behind. The prospect of having a mayor for Greater Essex would help enable more meaningful decisions to be made closer to local people.”
TDC, working with Essex County Council, secured £20million in regeneration funding for Clacton and Jaywick Sands through a Community Regeneration Partnership with the Government last year.
Three of the major projects, costing a total of £2.25 million – and which are already part of the Jaywick Sands Place Plan, include revitalising parks, play areas and creating a memorial garden; Solar panels for Sunspot; and the expansion of the Healthy Homes initiative and clearance of derelict sites.
For more information on the Jaywick Sands Place Plan and regeneration projects, visit https://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/content/jaywick-sands-place-plan.
