A crucial error during Colchester Council’s Local Plan consultation has raised doubts over the legality of the plan.

Lightwood Strategic had submitted its response on behalf of a landowner for an alternative garden community at Monks Wood in Pattiswick, which was not formally registered.

The mishap came to light during the penultimate day of the public examination during talks on the region’s three proposed garden communities.

According to panelists who attended, the procedural issue had serious legal implications.

However, a spokesman for Colchester Council denied it would delay the process.

He said: “Lightwood Strategic wasn’t formally notified of the examination.

“It’s important all parties have the correct recourse through the planning process and it’s regrettable this issue occurred.

“However, the councils (Colchester, Braintree and Tendring) were aware of the proposal and it had been considered in detail in the formal appraisals of alternatives.

“The representation has now been provided to, and considered by the inspector, and is available on the Local Plan website.

“Lightwood had also appeared at the examination and measures are in place to allow it an opportunity to make further representations to the inspector including, if necessary, an additional hearing date to address any outstanding concerns.”

Gazette:

Campaigners, however, do not share the authority’s confidence and feel this mishap has put residents at risk of a fourth new town.

Rosie Pearson, of the Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex, claimed Christopher Boyle QC, representing Lightwood, stated the Local Plan was likely to be found unlawful now, if challenged.

She said: “It seems the councils’ errors could bring down the plan and, worse, could lead to the people of north Essex being faced with a fourth unsustainable new town in addition to the three already proposed.

“It’s imperative our council leaders explain what happened and what will be done about it.

“Transparency is essential.

"In addition, it was abundantly clear at the two-week examination nearly £3 million of tax payers’ money has been wasted with virtually nothing to show for it.

“There simply is no plan.”

February 2 is the consultation deadline. Visit https://braintree-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/negc/ to submit your views.