COUNCILLORS have published an open letter in support of garden communities.

The councils leading on proposals for three garden settlements across Essex have noticed speculation since the Planning Inspector said plans were unviable.

Tendring Council leader Neil Stock joined the leaders of Braintree Council and Colchester Council to write an open letter to the public stressing the importance of garden communities.

It said: “It has been important for us to both understand in more detail the Planning Inspector’s findings and to take independent legal advice on the options available.

“It is critical we have a Local Plan in place. This is the document and set of policies which effectively set out where and what type of development will be permitted.

“Without it we open ourselves to speculative and piecemeal development.

“But, it is also important we do not rush into adopting a Local Plan which does not address current and future needs in the most sustainable way possible.”

North Essex needs to build 2,186 homes a year.

The letter added: “The easiest way of getting a Local Plan over the line would be to tack homes onto existing towns and villages. But we know this strains infrastructure and services. The idea of more homes adding to this would be madness.”

“This is what has been done in the past, and you can see the results today.”

The need for more homes remains, which is why the councils are looking at a different way of approaching housing.

The letter said: “The last thing any of us want to see is large scale housing estates or soulless bland commuter entities which will never provide the strategic infrastructure north Essex needs.

“We want to see cutting edge design both in building and layout, with a focus on walking and cycling.

“We want to see the affordability issue tackled through a mixture of high quality affordable and social homes.

“We want to see innovation in services such as waste and energy and ultimately, we want to see jobs.

“This is why the creation of developments built to a specific set of community and design-based principles and developed over many decades is the best approach.”

The council is waiting to hear back from the Planning Inspector about revised plans.