Essex University expansion could take in land south of A133

The university, in Wivenhoe, is keen to ensure it has the land necessary to meet its ambition of growing to accommodate 30,000 students and 1,500 researchers by 2035.

It currently comprises more than 17,000 students, but with developments in the pipeline including more student accommodation, it will grow to 20,000 by 2025.

An aerial view Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

In its submissions to the Tendring/Colchester Border Garden Community Joint Committee, the university has requested 35.5 hectares of land for its expansion, suggesting 13 hectares would be required for an expansion to its Knowledge Gateway research park.

A meeting of the committee, which considered responses to a consultation on the first draft of the garden community plan, heard objectors from Wivenhoe fear development to the south of the A133.

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Gary Guiver, director of planning at Tendring Council, said the issue “attracted the most comment”.

“Where reasons are given, they mainly raise concerns about the sprawl of the garden community and coalescence with Wivenhoe, leading to the loss of its individual character and countryside setting,” he said.

“They also raised concern about traffic and the impact on local infrastructure.”

The meeting heard two options put forward in the draft for developing the plan “fall short” of meeting the university’s ambitions.

Mr Guiver said: “In its representations, the university asks for up to 35.5 hectares of land for its own expansion and suggests 13 hectares are required for Knowledge-based employment.

“Overall, that’s getting on for two and a half times the land currently shown in our draft plan.”

He said the lead developer on the project had said the university’s expansion should be built on land to the south of the A133.

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“Still retaining a green buffer – albeit a much-reduced green buffer – to Wivenhoe and Elmstead, and freeing up more land north of the A133 for residential development and providing greater breathing space for Salary Brook,” he said.

Mr Guiver told the meeting the university would prefer its Knowledge-based employment land be located to the north of the A133 to enable a “closer physical relationship” with the existing Knowledge Gateway.

He said the committee faces three opposing positions from three “equally important” stakeholders – the Wivenhoe objectors, the university and the developer.

Further evidence will be prepared by officers to “support and test” the university’s ambitions before further recommendations are made to the committee.

“Officers don’t have the solution to this conundrum tonight members, but it is abundantly clear that the decision going forward is not one to be taken lightly,” he said.

“It could be a very difficult decision that might require compromise from all sides of the argument.

“Officers are therefore proposing further evidence is prepared, particularly to support and test the university’s ambitions for growth associated requirement for land before we make any further recommendations to this committee.”