Colchester Council may not have been told about original Wick report

A Freedom of Information request has revealed two separate ecological reports were prepared after the land was assessed by officials.

The first report prepared by Peter Brett Associates in 2017 found there were habitats “of high biodiversity value”.

But a second report, made publicly available three years later, downplayed environmental significance of the area. 

Land – the Middlewick Ranges is owned by the Ministry of Defence and owned by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (Image: Newsquest) The second report compiled by Stantec was used to justify the inclusion of the Middlewick Ranges in Colchester Council’s Local Plan.

The land is owned by the Ministry of Defence and managed through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

A spokesman for Colchester Council has now said the authority may not have been presented with the 2017 report.

He said: “Initial investigations suggest that the council and its officers were not presented with the 2017 ecological report.

“We are currently conducting a more thorough review to confirm this.”

The spokesman added although the decision to adopt the land into the Local Plan cannot be reviewed, the current status of the Local Plan and whether it is compliant with planning rules.

He continued: “While we cannot revisit past decisions, we are currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the Local Plan in accordance with the planning regulations, which require a Local Plan to be reviewed every five years.

“This review will examine the entire plan area comprehensively, taking into account updated evidence.”

Investigation – Colchester Council has said it is looking into whether it was informed about the report which highlighted the environmental significance of the Wick (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) “This includes the ongoing ecological survey being conducted within the Middlewick Ranges.

“Given that the 2017 ecological report was commissioned by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, any questions regarding its non-disclosure to the council might be best directed to that organisation.

“The council is committed to protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of our city, and we are actively working to ensure that our planning policies reflect this commitment.”

2017 report was only made available to council as 'reference' in 2020 assessment

A KEY report which emphasised the environmental importance of the Middlewick Ranges was only made available to the council as a ‘reference’ in a second report prepared years later, the Gazette has learnt.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman has said a report prepared in 2017 which gave the Wick a high biodiversity score was merely a preliminary report, and that it was only made available to officials when it was referenced as part of a more wide-ranging assessment completed in 2020.

He added the land is being sold in line with policy for selling government land.

He said: “The decision to close Middlewick Ranges was announced in parliament in 2016 as there is no longer a defence requirement for the site.

“It is being sold in accordance with treasury policy on the management of surplus government land.

 “The 2017 preliminary ecological assessment was an initial survey that made clear further assessment work would be required.

“The MoD therefore commissioned a comprehensive range of surveys over a three-year period that were submitted as part of the evidence base with a design concept of how the site could be developed.

“The preliminary report was included as a reference in the final report that was submitted.”

He added the MoD has not needed the Middlewick Ranges “for a number of years” and the sale of the land is effectively in the hands of His Majesty’s Treasury.