Planning Appeal Allowed in Wickham Bishops, Essex
We are delighted to have won a planning appeal against Maldon District Council, relating to a residential development of 14 dwellings in Wickham Bishops, Essex.
The Proposed Scheme
The design approach drew reference to the local character, which was characterised by its lower density. The proposed scheme sought a development of just 10 dwellings per hectare.
Access to the houses on site would be via small private roads which will support village character as they will not have street lighting and the roads will have informal, shared surface and alignment details.
The house designs would be bespoke involving a variety of designs and sizes which will sit happily in the pattern of nearby housing and reflect the scale of neighbouring buildings.
The Appeal
Maldon District Council refused the planning application on the basis that they believed they had a full five-year housing land supply requirement, and that it was their view that the proposed development would have an unacceptable impact on the character of the settlement edge. They also suggested that the development would be subject to noise issues from the adjoining sports uses.
We put forward a robust case that demonstrated that the Council’s viewpoint on these matters was ill-founded. We are pleased that the Planning Inspector agreed with our planning assessment. In considering this case, the Planning Inspector made the following conclusions:
The development plan polices are either out of date or have not progressed enough through the formal plan making process, particularly regarding the provision of small sites in rural areas to carry weight.
The overall scale of development proposed can be accommodated on site with plot sizes and a general form that is consistent with the wider pattern of the surrounding part of the village.
The illustrative layout also shows that there is ample scope for additional landscaping around the site, between the houses and along the road frontages to complement the recognised Arcadian character of the village.
Maldon District Council could demonstrate a 5-year supply of housing sites.
The proposed houses would not suffer from a material degree of disturbance which would result in unsatisfactory living conditions
Contact A D P
If you have had a planning application refused and are considering the next the course of action, please contact our planners at mail@adpltd.co.uk or using the form below to understand how we can assist you.