Proposals
Our plans for Boxted
Bellway Strategic Land’s aspiration for the land north of Boxted Straight Road is to create a vibrant, sustainable community that blends seamlessly with the local area, by providing additional high-quality new homes alongside thoughtfully designed green spaces, including a play area, and walking routes for everyone to enjoy.
Key features
How proposals are evolving at Boxted Cross
The proposals offer an exciting opportunity to help deliver new homes and public green open spaces in Boxted Cross in line with the proposed Colchester Local Plan.
- 150 high-quality new homes, 30% which will be affordable.
- Mix of homes ranging from 1 to 4-bedroom homes to meet local housing need.
- This site is draft allocated for 150 homes in Colchester’s emerging Local Plan.
- Design proposals will reflect the village’s mixed architectural character, in line with the Neighbourhood Plan.
- Enhanced landscaping and biodiversity, where tree retention will be prioritised to boost ecology.
- Promotion of walking and cycling through a proposed connection linking to existing Public Rights of Way.
- Sustainable drainage principles will be utilised on site, improving the current on-site drainage.
- A high design standard, bringing together traditional design, sustainable materials.
- All homes will be heated by Air Source Heat Pumps rather than gas.
- Providing at least 10% biodiversity net gain.
The site
Site location
The proposed site is located on the western edge of the village of Boxted Cross, approximately 5 miles north of Colchester and 24 miles northeast of Chelmsford. Its proximity to these centres, along with a range of nearby local services and amenities, makes it a sustainable location for new homes.
Site context
Understanding the local plan
Colchester City Council is currently undertaking a review of its adopted Local Plan to ensure that it remains up to date in line with national policy, development needs and infrastructure capacity.
The proposed site in Boxted Cross is draft allocated in the emerging Local Plan, identifying the site as a potential suitable future location for the delivery of new housing for circa 150 new homes.
Local facilites
Great connections and places
There are good local public transport connections, including the nearby Cooks Hill bus stop, which provides regular services between Boxted and Colchester from Monday to Saturday, as well as additional school-day routes.
Boxted Cross benefits from a variety of local facilities, including a playground at King George’s Field, a village hall, Harper’s Café, a primary school and pre-school. Additional services, such as convenience shops and community facilities, are available in Great Horkesley, located close by.
Straight Road provides a direct route into Colchester, offering access to a wide range of amenities including supermarkets, healthcare facilities and Colchester Hospital, as well as two railway stations.
New homes
High-quality housing that meets local needs
Bellway Homes is proposing to deliver 150 high-quality new homes to meet the housing needs of the local area in line with the Colchester Local Plan proposed allocation.
The proposed scheme encompasses a range of houses and low-rise apartments, 30% of which will be affordable. These homes will be a mix of affordable rent and shared ownership, which will enable more residents to get onto the housing ladder, including first-time buyers, families looking to upsize, or residents looking to downsize.
A mixture of homes, ranging from 1 bedroom to 4 bedrooms in size. The majority of the new homes across the development will be 2 storeys, with occasional buildings of up to 2.5 storeys spread throughout the site.
A careful selection of local materials and traditional design features will ensure that the development complements the historic rural character of the village, conserving its distinctive sense of place while enhancing the overall community.
Access and active travel
Carefully designed access arrangements
The proposed development will be accessed via one primary vehicular access point off Boxted Straight Road. This access point will lead into a main spine road with smaller shared-surface lanes and private drives branching off, creating a clear hierarchy of streets while prioritising pedestrians and cyclists along the edges of the site.
The proposals are also designed to encourage walking and cycling, with multiple connections to the surrounding countryside and Public Rights of Way. Encouraging more sustainable transport options and promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Parking is thoughtfully positioned in private drives to minimise its visual impact on the main streets, maintaining a pleasant and welcoming environment.
