Taylor Wimpey Development Broadfields & Wivenhoe Neighbourhood Plan

On June 9^th, Wivenhoe Town, Borough and County councillors successfully opposed Taylor Wimpey’s current proposals for a 120 house development behind Broadfields at CBC.  The opposition was not to any development at all, and we welcome Taylor Wimpey bringing forward revised proposals in line with the Wivenhoe Neighbourhood Plan.

The Wivenhoe Neighbourhood Plan was written by a group of volunteers, working in conjunction with and on behalf of Wivenhoe Town Council, to guide planning decisions in our locality to 2032, based on the views, vision and wishes of the people living here. The Plan was approved in a Referendum held on 2 May 2019 with 2,771 Votes FOR and just 342 votes AGAINST.  The Plan was then made part of CBC’s local development plan, and as such became a statutory instrument.

It is important that the Neighbourhood Plan is defended as it represents the majority view of the people of Wivenhoe, whilst also recognising that new homes are needed.

Taylor Wimpey’s proposal deviated from the Neighbourhood Plan in a number of ways, the main ones being;

• No one bedroom properties were included.  The Plan specifically identifies the need for these from older residents wanting to downsize (thus freeing up bigger houses) and for those just starting on the housing ladder.
• A significant part of the development was outside of the settlement boundary in the Plan – ie the area identified for housing, to protect the countryside and views.
• Anglian Water were concerned about the flood risk of the existing proposals.  More work is needed by Taylor Wimpey to address the risk that flood water from the development would run off down into the rest of Wivenhoe and people’s homes.
• A number of transport issues were raised, including;
  • an objection from Essex Fire Service that there was insufficient emergency vehicle access
  • planned cycle routes that lacked connectivity (and also breached police guidance)
  • no vehicular access to the recreation area or parking provision
• The urban designer at CBC commented that the plans demonstrated a lack of blue/green (water features and trees etc) infrastructure, not responsible planning in an age of climate emergency

To reiterate, Wivenhoe councillors hope that Taylor Wimpey will address these concerns and come back shortly with plans that provide needed housing but also respect the wishes of the people of Wivenhoe as reflected in the Neighbourhood Plan.

Jo Beighton-Emms

Town Clerk