See below for this week's key planning applications in the Maldon District, received or decided on by the Council.

Applications received

1. Land opposite Prentice Hall Farm, Prentice Hall Lane, Tollesbury

Outline planning application with all matters reserved except access, for up to 200 dwellings (Use Class C3); new site access and internal access roads; a new community building (Use Class F2(b)); land for a community car park (Sui Generis); car and cycle parking; landscaping; sustainable urban drainage systems; public open space; Local Equipped Area for Play ('LEAP'); and associated infrastructure.

2. Land at junction of Steeple Road and Mill Road, Mayland

Outline permission with all matters reserved for up to 57 dwellings.

3. Leanna House, Lock Hill, Heybridge Basin

Conversion of existing workshop building to two-bedroomed residential dwelling including internal and external alterations.

4. 85 Cedar Chase, Heybridge CM9 4NR

Single storey front extension to garage.

Applications approved

1. Land west of Willows End, Stephenson Road, North Fambridge

Outline planning permission (with all matters reserved for future determination) for erection of five dwellings

2. Land at Spital Farm, Station Road, Tolleshunt D'arcy

Proposed demolition of agricultural barns and construction of two dwellings.

3. Bairstow Eves, 20 High Street, Maldon CM9 5PJ

Variation of condition 2 on approved planning permission 21/01064/FUL (Refurbishment and extension of historic high street building to create ground floor work unit (Use Class E), a one-bedroom ground floor flat and two one-bedroom first floor flats.)

4. Colonsay Seaview Parade, St Lawrence, Southminster CM0 7PB

Single storey front extension and fenestration alterations.

Applications refused

1. Land north of the Groves, Burnham Road, Latchingdon

Outline planning application (with all matters reserved except for means of access from Steeple Road and Burnham Road) for residential development of up to 160 dwellings including affordable housing, 5 per cent bungalows, 100sqm of office hub floorspace, 0.21ha of land for childrens day nursery and associated parking (Use Class E), community park, sustainable urban drainage system and associated infrastructure.

Reason for refusal:

1. The proposal, by reason of its location outside of the settlement boundary does not represent sustainable development and accordingly the adverse impacts of the proposal would outweigh any benefits of the development contrary to policies S1, S2, S8, D1 and H4 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan 2017 and National Planning Policy Framework 2021.

2. Land To the south of Keelings Road, Dengie

Erection of a 19 MW Solar PV Array, comprising ground mounted solar PV panels, with co-located 5 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), vehicular access from Keelings Road, internal access tracks, landscaping and associated infrastructure including security fencing, CCTV cameras, and grid connection infrastructure including transformers, substation compound buildings and cabling route to the point of connection.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The application site includes land within Flood Zones 2 and 3 and so has a medium/high probability of flooding. The proposal is for 'essential infrastructure' but the proposal fails the Sequential Test as it has not been demonstrated that there is no land at lower risk of flooding within the District which could be developed as proposed. Furthermore, the development would also fail the Exceptions Test as, whilst the development would provide wider sustainability benefits to the community, it is not considered these would be sufficient to outweigh the flood risk and it has not been demonstrated satisfactorily that the development will be safe for its lifetime and not increase flood risk elsewhere. Therefore, the proposed development is unacceptable and contrary to the NPPF, the National Planning Practice Guide and Policies S1 and D5 of the Maldon District Approved Local Development Plan.
2. The development, as a result of its location, nature and extent, would cause harm to the character and appearance of the site and its surroundings, contrary to Policies S1, S8, D1 and D4 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan and the NPPF.
3. It has not been demonstrated that the development would not cause harm to waterbird assemblages associated with the nearby designated nature conservation sites (in particular, the SSSIs and SPAs) and so the proposal could have an adverse impact on nature conservation, contrary to Policies S1, S8, D1, D4 and N2 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan and the NPPF.

3. Land adjacent Ivydene, Scalby Road, Southminster

Construction of new detached single storey bungalow with detached two-bay garage with access driveway and parking/turning space together with new boundary fencing, external works and landscaping for private residential use (self/custom build).

Reasons for refusal:

1. The application site lies within a rural location outside of the defined settlement boundaries where policies of restraint apply. The Council can demonstrate a five-year housing land supply to accord with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework, the site has not been identified by the Council for development to meet future needs for the District and does not fall within either a Garden Suburb or Strategic Allocation for Growth identified within the Maldon District Local Development Plan to meet the objectively assessed needs for housing in the District. The proposed development would substantially alter the character of the site and surrounding area and have an unacceptable visual impact on the countryside through the urbanisation and domestication of the site. Furthermore, the application site, by reason of its location and means of access, would provide poor quality and limited access to sustainable and public means of transportation, resulting in the occupiers of the site being overly reliant on private means of transport. The limited benefits of the proposal do not outweigh the harm which would be caused, and the proposal would therefore not amount to sustainable development and be contrary to policies S1, S8, D1, T2 and H4 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan and the guidance contained within the NPPF.
2. In the absence of a completed legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, securing a necessary financial contribution towards Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy or an appropriate mitigation strategy to overcome the impacts of the development on the European designated nature conservation sites, the development would have an adverse impact on the European designated nature conservation sites, contrary to Policies S1, N2 and I1 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan and the guidance contained within the NPPF.

4. The Malt House, Maldon Road, Steeple CM0 7RN

Demolition of existing side extension and proposed replacement part two/part single storey side/front extension and single storey front porch.

Reason for refusal:

The proposed development due to its height, depth and design, would be an unsympathetic addition, failing to be subservient to the existing dwelling to the detriment of the character and appearance of the host dwelling and the surrounding area, contrary to policies D1 and H4 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan and the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

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