Urban Extension to Braintree Approved
Braintree District Council’s planning committee unanimously approved planning permission for a mixed-use development on land west of Panfield Lane, Braintree. This scheme represents a significant urban extension to the town of Braintree and comprises:
Up to 825 Residential Units,
Up to 0.95ha of land for Business Use (Use Class B1, B2, B8);
Up to 2.38ha of land for the provision of a Neighbourhood Centre with possible uses including Retail, Commercial, Residential Care, Health, Veterinary and Crèche Uses (Use Classes A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1a, C2, D1a, D1b);
Up to 2ha of land for a Primary School;
Up to 2.88ha of land for Community Sports Facilities; and
Highways infrastructure.
This application was submitted as a hybrid application with part outline and part detail. We formed an important part of the project team, designing Phase 1 of this development, which comprises the detailed component of the application. This aspect included 189 residential dwellings, and associated infrastructure, together with the new link road between Panfield Lane and Springwood Drive and new roundabout at the junction of Panfield Lane and Churchill Road.
The site was identified in the adopted Braintree District Core Strategy (2011) as one of the three mixed use strategic growth locations within the District. The approved mix of uses, subject to this application followed extensive discussions with the Council due to changing circumstances. When the site was originally allocated, the Council had been planning for a much lower housing target. The publication of the NPPF significantly changed the way that housing need was assessed and the Council were then required to plan for greater numbers. This had implications in terms of the housing numbers, which have increased but also the agreed mix of uses, which themselves have been influenced by other material factors.
We are delighted that this scheme has now been approved and look forward to being part of the ongoing project team and seeing this site delivered.
ADP is an architecture, design and planning practice with extensive experience in conceptualising and designing large-scale urban development projects. Successful place-making, that is creating attractive, vibrant places that people want to live and spend time in, is at the heart of our company ethos.
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