21,000 new homes planned, but critics argue Colchester is already overcrowded, citing hospital capacity and parking revenue.
The council wants almost 21,000 new homes and must rethink parts of their plan. Concerns arose at a recent meeting because the government wants them to build 1,300 homes yearly for the next 16 years.
A former MP, Bob Russell, spoke up, highlighting that car parks make the city money annually. Brittania Car Park and Vineyard Gate are key, and the station area also matters to him, as he does not want houses there.
Car parks bring in about a million pounds each year, and losing parking spaces hurts city finances. The city center relies on their revenue, and removing spaces has a ripple effect, affecting the city’s economy, he notes.
Sara Naylor talks about overcrowding, noting that the hospital often runs over capacity. It happens every day, not just in winter, and experts say they need 38 more beds now; in ten years, they will need 140 more.
Karen Syrett, who works for the city council, notes the need for local job creation. She says housing is not the only focus, emphasizing that Britain desperately needs more affordable houses. Planners face tough choices, finding locations for homes is tricky, and the council wants control over its future.