Our Aim
Our vision is to create a high-quality development of new homes and community amenity space that is well integrated with the village of Elmstead Market.
Elmstead Market is identified as a Rural Service Centre in the Tendring District Council Adopted Local Plan (2022) and benefits from a range of local facilities and services, as well as good connections to nearby settlements such as Colchester.
Hallam Land is preparing an outline planning application for up to 160 new homes, alongside new areas of open space, extensive landscaping, biodiversity enhancements, and new walking and cycling routes.
Site Details
The Site measures 10.7 hectares in area (26.5 acres) and comprises arable land.
It adjoins the eastern edge of the settlement boundary of Elmstead Market. The land is generally flat, and a public footpath crosses the site from south west to north east.
Existing homes lie to the west, alongside the Affinity Water covered reservoir. To the east, the field adjoins The Chase, a rural lane and public right of way, and Chase Cottages. There is a brook to the north east of the Site, beyond which lie agricultural fields.
Bromley Road forms the southern boundary, with housing located beyond.
View Aerial Plan
Concept Plan
The Indicative Concept Plan has been developed to respond to the Site's constraints and opportunities, informed by the technical work undertaken to date.
At this stage, the key components of the Indicative Concept Plan include:
- The delivery of up to 160 new homes, comprising a mix of 1 to 4 bedroom properties across a range of private and affordable tenures (30%)
- The provision of a new area of public open space, designed as a focal green amenity for both new and existing residents.
- The retention and enhancement of existing boundary vegetation, where appropriate.
- Extensive areas of new landscaping, including tree, hedgerow and grassland planting.
- Children's play and informal recreation space integrated within the landscaped green infrastructure network.
- Improvements to the existing Public Rights of Way crossing the Site, alongside the creation of new pedestrian routes for recreation and connectivity.
- Vehicular access via a new junction onto Bromley Road.
- The incorporation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to appropriately manage surface water runoff.
- New planting and habitat creation to deliver measurable biodiversity net gain, in line with adopted policy requirements.
Design & Placemaking Principles
The development will provide clear, well defined streets and spaces that are well connected to the surrounding area by walking and cycling routes.
Layout
The layout will be designed to accommodate a housing mix that reflects local needs, including a range of smaller homes (1 and 2 bedroom properties), as emphasised in the Elmstead Market Neighbourhood Plan.
Different building styles and materials will reflect the character of Elmstead Market, while green routes, shared surfaces and landscaping help create a softer, more informal feel in parts of the site. Homes around the central green and parkland areas will help create strong, welcoming places and a clear sense of identity.
Open Spaces
The Site will create new usable green spaces that add to what the village already has. This will include a small central green with public play space for children, as well as green links through the site with seating, open views and places to stop and relax.
New walking and cycling routes will run through these landscaped areas, including along the eastern edge of the site, helping residents stay active and supporting health and wellbeing.
Connectivity
The layout of the development will be designed to be easy to move around on foot or by bike. New routes will link the site to the existing footpath network and improve pedestrian access to the nearby Woodland Trust land to the east of the village.
Technical Approach
Technical and supporting work has been and will continue to be undertaken to inform and influence the emerging proposal.
Feedback Survey
The survey is now closed.