Guidance for developers

Visit the Essex Design Guide (EDG) for comprehensive guidance on planning in Essex.

View Essex Planning Protocol (PDF, 589KB) for planning authorities’ shared commitment to delivering quality developments in Essex.

See the Developers Guide to Infrastructure Contributions (PDF, 2.96MB) for guidance on how Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy can be used to mitigate the impact of development.

An updated draft version of the  Developers Guide to Infrastructure Contributions (PDF, 3.28 MB) is now available for comment. Please send your comments to Development.Enquiries@essex.gov.uk.

All comments must be submitted by Friday 30 May 2025. After this date, the draft version will be revised and a final version will be published.

Our annual Infrastructure Funding Statements show how the Council has delivered new infrastructure using money contributed by developers:

See Essex Highways adoptions and land section, which has guidance on all aspects of development work on the highway.