Land at Feering, Essex
Proposals for a community led development for Feering
Discover plans to create a community-led development
The Crown Estate owns land in Feering and is looking to develop this land over the next few years. The land is included in the Feering Neighbourhood Plan and Braintree Council’s plans for development in the area, for a mix of new homes, community, education, and employment uses and open spaces.
Our ambition is for this to be a community-led development which engages each and every one of you and places the community at the heart of what we do.
We want this to be a community-led approach that engages each and every one of you and places the community at the heart of what we do. It is recognised that local people have already put a lot of work into shaping the Feering Neighbourhood Plan, and we intend to build on this engagement to produce a development fit for the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
We want this development to represent the identity of Feering and enhance the lives of residents by being shaped by you.
See below for more information on how you can get involved and important documents.
Get involved
Local residents and businesses have already put a lot of work into shaping the Feering Neighbourhood Plan, and we intend to build on this engagement to produce a development fit for the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
Community and Youth Panels
As part of the engagement process we are forming a community panel and a youth panel. The panels will meet regularly to work through specific areas in relation to the development (e.g., housing types, nature and the environment, meaningful spaces and places). The outcomes from the panels will feed directly into the design team and offer people the opportunity to have their voice heard. If you are interested please send an email to info@landatfeering.co.uk
Ongoing engagement with residents and community groups
Throughout the year Paul and Carl, our community engagement leads, will be visiting Feering regularly to meet with residents and community groups. This might be to discuss any concerns you have, explore ways you can be involved, or talk through ideas about what this development might offer. Please do get in touch to arrange a meeting via info@landatfeering.co.uk
The story so far...
The allocated development site is addressed as part of the Feering Neighbourhood Plan, produced by local residents over a number of years via an extensive consultation process with the community. Following a referendum in October 2022, the Neighbourhood Plan was adopted in January 2023. The policy covering the site’s allocation is set out in Braintree District Council’s Local Plan 2013-2033. To realise the goal of a community-led development we have:
Been meeting residents, community groups, and local stakeholders to find out more about what they want and don’t want in the new masterplan and want to get as many people as possible involved in discussing creative ideas for the masterplan to make sure that its being shaped by local people and meets their needs.
Used the Neighbourhood Plan as a springboard for the process, we are now underway with a community-led approach to masterplanning future phases, which has started by engaging with people ‘on the ground’ in the broader Feering area.
Ran a Community Engagement and Design Day to work with local residents and stakeholders on a range of areas and themes relevant to the development (see documents section for overview of the day and the subsequent report-back session)
The story so far…
In addition to the above, throughout 2024 we have been:
Running a range of activities to promote the ideas, views, and opinions of everyone - including local schools, and community groups.
Offered a range of creative engagement activities, meeting with local residents and key stakeholders, and running a representative community panel and a youth panel to directly inform the project (see community panel minutes below).
Continuing a two-way dialogue with the community and keep the community up-to-date with how things are progressing.
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
28th October 2024 - 8-10 weeks
Trial Trenching
During our application research for the Feering Development, we have identified areas of archaeological interest. This means that we now need to carry out archaeological Trial Trenching as this will help us to create a robust assessment of the site.
How does Trial Trenching work?
Due to the importance of getting this right, all archaeological work on the site will be undertaken by experienced archaeologist contractors. Trial trenching is typically carried out by digging trenches using excavators and then hand excavation of the archaeological deposits. Survey equipment helps to plot out the trenches which the machine will follow and start to remove the soil in layers. The top layer of the soil is stored separately so that the trenches can be returned with as little disruption as possible once the investigation is completed. After the excavators work through the soil, a team of archaeologists will work to clear and record any remains which have been revealed.
See Documents section for more information
Events held
Events held
Saturday 9th March - 10.30 - 16.00
Feering Community Centre
Feering
CO5 9QB
Land at Feering Community Engagement & Design Day
Help Shape Plans for the Development South & East of Feering
Join us at the Community Engagement & Design Day on Saturday 9 March.
Everyone is welcome! Feel free to pop in for a few minutes, participate in a design table or stay all day!
Come along to the Community Engagement & Design Day for
Background exhibition
Interactive, themed design tables
Informal conversations with the team
Coffee truck
Face painting for kids
Report Back the Emerging Ideas
After the Community Engagement & Design Day, the team will analyse and summarise the outcomes and Report Back the Emerging Ideas.
Following the Report Back of the Emerging Ideas, the team will develop the proposals through further meetings and design sessions with local people, young people and groups, including two further public events, and draw up an Outline Planning Application for submission to Braintree District Council in winter 2024.
Land at Feering Community Engagement Day
Hear how you have helped to shape the plans for the development South & East of Feering
Join us at the Community Engagement Day on Saturday 14th September.
Everyone is welcome! Feel free to pop in for a few minutes, or stay all day!
Come along to the Community Engagement Day for:
Updates on how the community have shaped the plans.
Themed presentation boards covering a variety of aspects of the design.
Informal conversations with the team.
Wednesday 20th March - 18.45 - 20.15
All Saint’s Church
The Street, Feering
CO5 9QJ
Saturday 14th September - 10.00 - 14.00
Feering Community Centre
Feering
CO5 9QB
Give Us Your Thoughts
In the run up to the Community Engagement & Design Day, visit:
communities.createstreets.com/landatfeering
to give us your views about Feering and the local area via the interactive map.
Documents
Explore PDFs and files covering the development and planning
January 2024 - Newsletter
Feering Neighbourhood Plan
Community Engagement and Design Day Boards - 09/03/24
Community Panel 1 Minutes - 24/06/26
Braintree Local Plan
Trial Trenching
Community Engagement and Design Day - 09/03/24
Community Panel 3 Minutes - 29/05/24
Community Engagement Day Flyer
Community Engagement Report Back and Emerging Ideas - 20/03/24
Community Panel 2 Minutes - 14/05/24
Community Panel 4 Minutes - 23/07/24
Community Engagement Day Boards - 14/09/24
Community Panel 5 Minutes - 30/10/24
The Team
Leading the project is The Crown Estate and as part of the team we have appointed architects, engineers, and a variety of other consultants, including experts in community engagement and co-production from Hoare Lee to work alongside our Community Partnerships Manager to ensure we realise the potential of a community-led development for everyone.
Contact us
For any questions or more information on how to get involved, please contact us via email:
info@landatfeering.co.uk
The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate is an independent business, set up by an Act of Parliament, sitting between the public and private sectors, acting in the national interest both today, and for future generations.
Across communities, countryside, coast and seabed, we own and manage land for the benefit of the nation. Through our development activities, we want to help address the needs facing our country, as well as the needs of the local area, taking into consideration communities, homes, employment, nature and climate.