Land at Thorpe Road
The Applicant
City & Country
The applicant is City & Country, an award-winning Essex-based developer with a strong presence in the local area. For more than 20 years, City & Country has specialised in the conversion of significant heritage buildings, including Balls Park in Hertford, St Michael's in Braintree and The Galleries in Brentwood. The company has also delivered projects further afield, including the King Edward VII Estate in Midhurst, as well as developments in London, Bath and Bristol.
Over the past decade, City & Country has expanded into the delivery of new-build housing in Essex, initially at West Field, St Osyth, and more recently at Manningtree Park in Lawford. Their projects range in scale from developments of 50 homes to strategic schemes of up to 500 homes. The family-owned business employs more than 150 people.
City & Country prides itself on the high standards of care, vision and craftsmanship that define its developments. The company adopts a collaborative and trusted approach with local authorities, communities and other key stakeholders, seeking to achieve the best possible outcomes in response to local housing needs. A landscape-led design approach is central to each project, ensuring that development reflects local character and responds sensitively to the surrounding environment.
The Proposal
Land at Thorpe Road
City & Country is preparing an outline planning application, with all matters reserved except access, for the delivery of up to 150 new homes at Foots Farm, Thorpe Road, Clacton-on-Sea. The proposals include affordable housing, public open space, play provision, a community orchard and associated infrastructure.
The proposals will provide a range of homes designed to meet local housing needs. In accordance with local planning policy, 30% of the homes are proposed as affordable housing, helping to address identified housing needs within Clacton-on-Sea and the surrounding area.
The development has been shaped by a landscape-led approach, retaining and enhancing existing trees and hedgerows across the site whilst providing significant new areas of accessible green infrastructure. A substantial proportion of the site will remain as open space, incorporating areas for recreation, biodiversity enhancement and access to nature. The community orchard will provide an attractive and usable green space for both new and existing residents, creating opportunities for recreation and community interaction.
The proposals represent a natural extension to the existing pattern of development at the edge of Clacton-on-Sea, integrating with existing neighbourhoods while responding positively to the site's landscape features and environmental assets.
Two principal points of access are proposed. The southern parcel will be accessed via the existing roundabout on Thorpe Road and Auger Road, whilst a second access point is proposed from Thorpe Road to serve the northern parcel.
Tendring District Council's housing land supply currently stands at 3.2 years, significantly below the five-year requirement set out in national planning policy. The proposals will make a meaningful contribution towards meeting local housing needs through the delivery of up to 150 new homes, including affordable housing, together with significant areas of green infrastructure, public open space and biodiversity enhancements. The development will provide a range of homes suitable for first-time buyers, families and other household types, helping to support the continued growth of Clacton-on-Sea.
Transport
Supporting sustainable travel and accessibility
The site is well connected to the surrounding area and has been designed to promote safe and convenient travel by all modes. New vehicle access points are proposed from Thorpe Road and Centenary Way, with layouts designed in accordance with Essex Design Guide standards.
Future residents will benefit from a range of sustainable travel opportunities. Existing bus services are accessible from bus stops to the south, which provide connections to Clacton town centre, employment areas and rail services, while Clacton-on-Sea railway station can also be reached within a 15-minute cycle. The site is also within walking and cycling distance of local shops, schools, leisure facilities and employment opportunities.
The proposals include pedestrian and cycle links connecting to the surrounding network, making it easier and safer to walk and cycle for everyday journeys. Existing shared walking and cycling routes on Centenary Way and Thorpe Road will provide direct access to local facilities and services.
Transport assessments will demonstrate that the development can be accommodated on the local highway network without creating a severe impact on highway capacity or safety. The combination of good local accessibility, sustainable travel connections and carefully designed access arrangements ensures the site is well placed to support a sustainable new community.
Drainage
A sustainable approach to water management
Add text from drainage consultant
Submit Your Comments
You can submit your comments to us in a number of ways
You can choose to submit a feedback form, or you can email planning@cityandcountry.co.uk with your feedback. The consultation period closes on Friday 14th August 2026 at 5pm
Next Steps
Feedback from residents and other interested parties will be reviewed and where possible adopted and this will assist in informing the final proposal for any planning submission.
On submission of an application, the council will undertake its own consultation with statutory and non-statutory consultees as well as local residents before making a decision on whether the development should go ahead.
Have Your Say
Your feedback is important and will help us understand the thoughts and opinions of the local community as part of the consultation process. Please take a few moments to complete the form by following the link below
Have Your Say – Fill in form