The 75 miles of Maldon District’s coastline form a long distance trail which includes 10 SSSIs,the UK’s oldest chapel, 5 nature reserves, an ancient battlefield, huge flocks of wading birds, Maldon’s famous Hythe Quay and Promenade Park adjacent the Blackwater Estuary. 

The District’s towns, villages and hamlets have evolved through agriculture, trade, travel and commercial activity from the earliest salt-making, flour milling, iron working, tool making and even car production. The District has a strong manufacturing and engineering focus in Maldon and Heybridge and the salt making and producing high quality arable crops for flour milling with two international brands continues.

Once Maldon stood as a bastion against raiding Viking forces, now the backdrop of sky, saltmarsh and water make this area of the Essex coast a beautiful haven for wildlife, enriched by a resounding history. The majestic Thames Sailing Barges which cluster around the Hythe Quay evoke the days of traditional sail and a working port. Promenade Park dates from Edwardian times but still continues to delight families today. It boasts a splash park, beach huts and adventure play with access to the coastal path. The steep climb up Market Hill leads to the historic inns, churches and fine medieval buildings in the town and a successful High Street with a focus on independent shops, boutiques and restaurants.

The statue of Byrhtnoth, the fierce Anglo Saxon warrior, commemorates Maldon’s most famous moment in history, the Battle of Maldon in AD991. A specially commissioned embroidery, created 1,000 years later and now on permanent display in the town, depicts the Battle and the story of Maldon.

The District has a strong maritime history as evidenced by the working shipwrights, boatyards and chandlery trades that continue to support the working and recreational boats, yachts and other craft. St Mary’s Church, near the Hythe Quay is known locally as the mariner’s church as it acted as a beacon for sailors navigating the river.

The District has planned for significant growth in two new garden suburbs and an economic focus in regenerating its main employment area. Whilst safeguarding its existing business and encouraging new investment, the Maldon District has a unique environmental quality but is committed to its ‘open for business’ focus and delivery of high quality design in all development through its Placemaking and Design Quality policies.

The District has a diverse tourism offer in the built, historic and natural environments where the history at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome can be explored at the only remaining World War I Aerodrome with its original buildings intact, or a walk along the towpath of the former commercial waterway of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation from Hey bridge Basin to Papermill Lock or visiting the 7^th century chapel of St Peter’s-on-the-Wall that dominates the remote, atmospheric coastline at the tip of the Dengie Peninsula.

Maldon District Council	Local guidance	Countywide / Subregional	Not currently available
Local Development Plan
Adopted Local Plan	●
Development Viability
Developer Contributions			●
Greater Essex Growth and Infrastructure Framework (GIF)		●
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)	●
Development and Urban Design
Neighbourhood planning	●
Planning Policy	●
Design Guidance	●
South Maldon Garden Suburb Strategic Design Code	●
North Heybridge Garden Suburb Strategic Design Code	●
South Maldon Garden Suburb Strategic Masterplan Framework	●
North Heybridge Garden Suburb Strategic Masterplan Framework	●
Maldon and Heybridge Central Area Masterplan	●
Parking Policy	●
Health and Wellbeing
Health Impact Assessment (HIA)		●
Accessible and Adaptable Dwellings			●
National Space Standards		●
Essex Insight Public Health Profile		●
Open Space Appraisal			●
Open Space Strategy			●
Playing Pitch Assessment			●
Climate Change and Flood Risk
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)	●
Water Cycle Study	●
Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP)	●	●
Sustainable Drainage Systems Design Guide		●
Environment Quality
Landscape Character Assessment	●
Green Space Strategy	●
Historic Characterisation	●
Maldon District Characterisation Assessment	●
Local Wildlife Site Review	●
Conservation Area Reviews and  Appraisals (14)	●
Transport and Communications Infrastructure
Highways Standards			●
Cycling Strategy		●
Local Transport Plan		●
Protected Lanes	●
Economy & Retails
Economic Development Needs Assessment (EDNA)			●
Retail Needs Assessment	●
Housing
Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)	●
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)	●
Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment	●	●
Green Belt (Maldon District has no Green Belt)
Green Belt Functions Assessment			●
Green Belt Landscape Assessment			●
Green Belt Boundary Review			●