School and community hub planned at 1,000 home Middlewick estate

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has published a new “vision document” for its proposals for Middlewick Ranges in Colchester.

The MoD is looking to build 1,000 homes on part of The Wick once the site is sold after military operations cease in 2022.

A new two-form entry primary school, with two classes per year group, is planned for the site within walking distance of a new local centre.

This will feature shops, leisure and community facilities, such as a GP surgery as well as a public square for use by new and existing residents of the area.

The DIO says a range of outdoor facilities will be created, including allotments, sports pitches and natural green spaces while a BMX track, farm school, woodland cemetery and community orchard could also be created.

Less than 40 per cent of the site will be built on, with 63 per cent of the area remaining open to the public.

The DIO says 78 per cent of the fenced area of The Wick will be built on, meaning there will be more accessible open space once plans are complete.

A network of “green streets” will be created in a bid to decrease traffic through the estate and boost walking and cycling.

The vision document states: “Middlewick Ranges will provide a sustainable new community in a highly-accessible location.

“With great walking, cycling and public transport links, the site is highly connected to nearby facilities and will offer an attractive landscape setting.

“Middlewick offers the opportunity to reflect the best principles of sustainable design ensuring the highest quality of place-making to meet contemporary sustainable living requirements and enable climate change resilience for the future.

“The new community will benefit from an integrated approach to place-making and sustainable infrastructure at the settlement scale.

“The design will be developed sensitively in relation to the site’s existing ecology.

“It will provide affordable, healthy and beautiful homes, set within walkable and highly-sociable neighbourhoods encouraging residents to connect their community, street and home, creating a truly inclusive community.”

It adds: “Middlewick Ranges will be a sustainable, landscape and ecology-led, mixed use development of approximately 1,000 homes, supported by a centre with community facilities, and a primary school.”

Plans for The Wick, which is a popular beauty spot, have proved controversial among residents.

A consultation last year generated 231 responses, a third of which called for the plans to be scrapped, but The Wick has been allocated for homes in Colchester Council’s Local Plan.

The vision document can be viewed at middlewickconsultation.co.uk.