Residential Development in Colchester Granted Planning Permission
We are delighted to have secured Reserved Matters planning permission for 17 residential dwellings on land at Chesterwell, to the north of Colchester. This project represents a good example of working with the local planning authority to ensure a positive planning decision.
The Planning Challenge
The application site forms part of Chesterwell, a new urban extension of 1,600 residential dwellings, a neighbourhood centre, and mix of community and commercial uses.
It is actually located within the new Neighbourhood Centre, which has limits placed upon it in terms of the quantum of development, including the number of planning uses. The proposed scheme is located on land that become available following efficiencies gained in the design process, allowing for a more effective use of land. The challenge we had was to demonstrate that the proposed number of dwellings fell within the scope of the outline planning permission. We engaged with the Council constructively to agree a way forward with this land and ensure the amount of development that would be allowed.
The Design
The proposed scheme sought 17 no. two-bed and three-bed dwellings.
The layout of the residential dwellings reflects and respond to the surrounding setting and its position within the Neighbourhood Centre to include the following features:
The proposed scheme followed a strong perimeter block structure, with the houses fronting directly on to the street and the public realm.
This site actually adjoins the public car park serving the Neighbourhood Centre. The development has provided the opportunity for the houses to front on to a key pedestrian pathway within the Neighbourhood Centre that provides access to this public car park, the secondary school to the rear of the site and commercial/retail units.
The residential frontages would have a clearly defined boundary to aid legibility and coherence and to define public and private space.
The proposed development will reinforce the sense of enclosure and provide a strong building line in this area.
The parking area for the dwellings is to the rear of the site and is to be set within a landscape setting. This is an appropriate solution as it separates the private parking from the public areas and is set behind an enclosed built form, out of view, reducing the dominance of the motor vehicle in the streetscene.
The design of the dwellings reflects the house types approved within the wider area, but with a variation of detailing to differentiate the Neighbourhood Centre from the wider residential areas and the commercial element of the Neighbourhood Centre. Some of the detailing included a strong vertical rhythm, with use of facing gable ends to reflect emerging proposals for the wider Neighbourhood Centre. This approach will ensure a strong visual frontage.
How Can We Help
If you need planning assistance with your next residential project then don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable team. A D P are able to assist you from start to finish, from an initial feasibility study to determine if the project feasibility, design input and planning drawings and undertaking the planning submission on your behalf.
You can contact our team via mail@adpltd.co.uk or by using the form below: