{"id":829468,"date":"2026-03-16T11:31:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/829468\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:31:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:31:18","slug":"architect-team-submits-plans-for-7750-home-essex-new-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/829468\/","title":{"rendered":"Architect team submits plans for 7,750-home Essex new town"},"content":{"rendered":"

The part-detailed, part-outline application for the 715ha Garden City-style development, known as the Tendring-Colchester Borders project, comes three years<\/a> after the UK\u2019s largest housing association chose the \u2018pioneering consultant design team\u2019 for the huge scheme.<\/p>\n

RIBA Stirling Prize-winner Haworth Tompkins is working alongside Swedish masterplanners Kjellander Sj\u00f6berg, spatial and landscape design practice Periscope plus architects Grounded Practice, Jas Bhalla Works, Michael Pawlyn, Bell Phillips Architects, Colchester-based HAT Projects, and engineers Arup.<\/p>\n

According to the team, the landscape-led masterplan has been designed to \u2018protect and restore natural habitats\u2019, half of which will be given over to open space. The scheme aims to retain 30km of mature hedgerows as \u2018core infrastructure\u2019 and also features restored woodland networks and a 60ha country park.<\/p>\n

The hybrid submission includes detailed plans for an initial stages with more than 800 homes, the first phase of a rapid transit system, and a \u2018public quarter\u2019 for community activities and jobs.<\/p>\n

Richard Cook, chief development officer at Clarion Housing Group, described the submission as a \u2018landmark moment\u2019, adding that \u2018housing associations stepping into the role of master developer [was] nationally significant\u2019, demonstrating how \u2018organisations with a social purpose can create large-scale, well-designed communities, expertly meet local housing need, and create lasting social and environmental value\u2019.<\/p>\n

Clarion has partnered with Colchester Borough Council, Tendring District Council and Essex County Council and has worked alongside Homes England and the The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The housing association claims the proposal is founded on \u2018long-term public benefit, infrastructure provision and place stewardship\u2019 which will marry \u2018design ambition and viability, while aligning with the principles of the New Towns Taskforce\u2019.<\/p>\n

Cook added: \u2018In 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.\u2019<\/p>\n

The scheme also includes up to four primary schools, a secondary school, mobility hubs, health hubs, and cultural venues and a modern \u2018guildhall\u2019. At least 30 per cent of the proposed homes will be designated \u2018affordable\u2019.<\/p>\n

The Garden Community is also projected to generate more than 6,000 full-time jobs.<\/p>\n

The original competition brief, organised by Colander<\/a> for Latimer<\/a>, called for an \u2018exemplary masterplanning team\u2019 to deliver a \u2018sustainable and inclusive\u2019 vision for the site on the eastern fringe of Colchester. An outline planning application had first been expected in 2024.<\/p>\n

Haworth Tompkins\u2019 bid was chosen ahead of submissions from four other teams, which featured a mix of established names, such as Grimshaw, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, Mikhail Riches and Farrells, collaborating with a number of emerging names.<\/p>\n

Speaking after the official submission of the plans, Joanna Sutherland, director at Haworth Tompkins, said: \u2018[This] masterplan reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable neighbourhoods shaped through partnership, meaningful engagement and long-term stewardship.<\/p>\n

\u2018Our vision is for a landscape-led, walkable community with a strong civic heart, one that provides much-needed homes and infrastructure while creating lasting social and environmental value for Tendring and Colchester.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community: Axonometric of Gateway Place within the scheme designed by Periscope<\/p>\n

Project team<\/p>\n

Master developer<\/strong>\u00a0Latimer
Masterplanners<\/strong>\u00a0Haworth Tompkins, Kjellander Sj\u00f6berg with Grounded Practice
Architecture (detailed components)<\/strong> Haworth Tompkins, Jas Bhalla Works, Bell Phillips Architects, and
HAT Projects
Landscape design<\/strong>\u00a0Periscope
Sustainability consultant<\/strong>\u00a0Arup with Michael Pawlyn
Technical design and engineering<\/strong>\u00a0Stantec
Cost consultant <\/strong>Tetra Tech
Estates management and stewardship<\/strong>\u00a0CSS
Viability consultant<\/strong>\u00a0Turner Morum
Public engagement support<\/strong>\u00a0Connect
Planning consultancy<\/strong>\u00a0Lichfields
Structural consultancy (detailed component)<\/strong>\u00a0Clancy
MEPH and energy (detailed component)<\/strong>\u00a0Wallace Whittle<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community: Knowledge Gateway and Southern Fields end state illustrative overview by Haworth Tompkins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The part-detailed, part-outline application for the 715ha Garden City-style development, known as the Tendring-Colchester Borders project, comes three…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":829469,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3939],"tags":[4021,4020,238171,171050,4022,77,18498,16,15],"class_list":["post-829468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-clarion-housing","tag-colchester","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-masterplan","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116238633276613334","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=829468"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829468\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/829469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=829468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=829468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=829468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}