Latimer Goes Low-Bill For T&C
Plans have been submitted by Latimer, the development arm of the Clarion Housing Group, for a new low-bill, 7,750-home garden community for Tendring & Colchester.
The masterplan refers to a new district called Borders Garden Community, although the proposal includes three distinct neighbourhoods each in walking distance of each other, with up to four primary schools, one secondary school, mobility hubs, health hubs and a central civic common including cultural venues and a modern Guildhall.
Low-bill homes
Latimer will deliver a mixture of energy-efficient, low-bill homes. 30% will be designated as ‘affordable’, including social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership.
The new Garden Community is projected to generate 6,000+ full time jobs.
A rapid public transport system will connect to Colchester and surrounding centres.
Sustainability
Guided by the local landscape, the masterplan is based on retaining over 30km of existing hedgerow-lined country lanes, preserving historic field margins and mature ecological networks. Designed with over 50% open space, the Borders Garden Community features a 60ha country park, restored woodland networks and over 10ha dedicated to local food production including orchards and allotments.
Shovels in the ground
The proposal includes a detailed component for the first phases of development, including 837 homes, the first phases of the parkland, flexible workspaces for local small businesses, a transport hub, and Gateway Place, a new public quarter with a market square.
Richard Cook, Chief Development Officer at Clarion Housing Group, said: “This submission marks a major step forward in delivering a flagship new Garden Community for Tendring and Colchester and a landmark moment for Clarion. Housing associations stepping into the role of master developer is nationally significant, as it demonstrates how organisations with a social purpose can create large-scale well-designed communities, expertly meet local housing need, while creating lasting social and environmental value.
“We have worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Homes England. In this context and as the government grapples with how to deliver new towns that are fully integrated and deliverable, we hope that it will provide a valuable model of what is possible.”
Russ Edwards, TCBGC Project Director at Latimer, said: “The Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community masterplan reflects years of dedicated, collaborative working with councils, communities and a dynamic, multidisciplinary design team. Collectively, we are very excited for the next steps in taking the proposal forward. The scheme demonstrates a shared vision to create an ambitious, inclusive and regenerative new community – one which the whole of North Essex can be proud of.”
Picture: Artist's impression of the new 7,750-home Borders Garden Community masterplan. Image courtesy of Kjellander Sjöberg
Latimer (the development arm of Clarion Housing Group) has officially submitted plans for a major new "low-bill" development called the Borders Garden Community. Located on the border of Tendring and Colchester in North Essex, the massive project focuses on long-term sustainability and acting as a model for future large-scale community building.
