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

Applications received

1. Eastern Bird Island, Northey Island, Maldon

Beneficial use of dredged sediment (BUDS) to create a platform on the inter-tidal area for three redundant Thames lighter barges to be placed and infilled with sediment to create new habitat for nesting birds and shelter existing saltmarsh against wave-induced erosion.

2. Land west of David Fisher Way, David Fisher Way, Southminster

Bloor Homes: Outline planning application with all matters reserved except for primary means of access from Scotts Hill, for the development of up to 249 dwellings, public open space, together with associated, landscaping, highways, drainage and other infrastructure works

3. Land south of Wycke Hill and Limebrook Way, Maldon

Crest Nicholson: Reserved matters application for the approval of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of Phase 3 of the Western Parcel (comprising 77 residential dwellings (Use Class C3), new public open space and car parking) of approved planning application 22/00393/VARM (Variation of condition 35 (details of employment land) on approved planning permission 20/00074/FUL (Variation of condition 10 (speed review strategy) and 20 (pedestrian/cycle crossing of Limebrook Way) on approved application 19/01134/FUL (Removal of condition 11 (details of 'Access Link Strategy') on approved planning application FUL/MAL/18/00071 (Variation of conditions 5,13,21,25,43,53,55,61,63,67, 68,69,74,81,84 on approved application OUT/MAL/14/01103 (Outline application for up to 1000 dwellings, an employment area of 3.4 hectares (Use Classes B1, B2 and B8 uses), a local centre (Use Classes A1-A5, B1a, C2, C3, D1 and D2 uses), a primary school, two early years and childcare facilities, general amenity areas and formal open space including allotments, sports playing fields, landscaping, sustainable drainage measures including landscaped storage basins and SuDs features, vehicle accesses onto the existing highway network and associated infrastructure.))

4. Halifax, 52A High Street, Maldon CM9 5UJ

Removal of external signage, a security camera, and an external ATM.

Applications approved

1. Oval Park, Northwest Plot, Hatfield Road, Langford

Maldon Salt Crystal Company Limited: Erection of building for Sui Generis purposes, together with car parking, servicing areas and landscaping.

The company will move to a new headquarters as part of its planned expansion this winter.

2. Southminster Fish Bar, 11A High Street, Southminster CM0 7AA

Claim for lawful development certificate for existing use of building as a fish and chip shop.

Reason for approval:

1. The Local Planning Authority is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to substantiate the claim that, on the balance of probability, the use of the existing ground floor premises known as 11A High Street, as a hot food takeaway under the sui-generis use class in accordance with The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 bar, is lawful.

3. Former Atherstone Lodge, Fambridge Road, Purleigh

Ben Rigby Game Limited: The proposal is for a new commercial building comprising a cold store, ancillary operation spaces access drives and a loading bay.

Applications refused

1. 2 Steeple Meadows, Southminster CM0 7UY

An application for a single storey side extension.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The proposed development would result in insufficient provision of on-site car parking being made which is likely to result in on-street parking within the vicinity of the site to potentially causing obstruction and congestion to the highway network and risk to pedestrians and other road users particularly given the location of the site at a road junction. As a result, the development would be contrary to Policies T2 and D1 of the Maldon District Approved Local Development Plan and the Maldon District Vehicle Parking Standards SPD.
2. The remaining private amenity space at the property, due to its limited size, would fall significantly short of the recommended minimum size for usable private amenity space for a property of this size. The development would, therefore, result in a level of private amenity space that would be detrimental to the living conditions of the future occupiers of the dwellinghouse. The proposed development is not therefore in accordance with policies D1 and H4 of the Maldon District Approved Local Development Plan, the Maldon District Design Guide SPD and the NPPF.

2. Land adjacent to 56 Top Road, Tolleshunt Knights

Three new dwellings and landscaped proposals.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The proposed development is located outside of a defined settlement boundary and is in open countryside. The site is not considered to be in an accessible location and does not promote sustainable travel. Furthermore, by virtue of the domestication and urbanisation of the site, and loss of a punctuated rural gap, the proposed development is considered to appear as an incongruous form of development that is out of keeping and will erode the intrinsic beauty of the open countryside. The principle of development has, therefore, been found to be unacceptable. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies S1, S2, S8, D1, D2, H4, T1, T2, N1 and N2 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017), the Maldon District Design Guide (2017), and the policies and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).
2. The proposed development has not considered the context within which it will sit. With its associated residential curtilage, paraphernalia and domestic characteristics, the development has been found to urbanise the site and would not be in keeping with the character and appearance of the rural area. The development, overall, is of poor-quality design. The dwellings are individually designed and have not taken design cues from the rural area and lack a coherent a sense of place. The dwellings are excessive in height, scale and bulk, and introduce excessive amounts of glazing, an opposing mix of materials, and lack a fenestration hierarchy. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies S1, S8, D1 and H4 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017), the Maldon District Design Guide (2017), and the policies and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).
3. In the absence of a completed legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the necessary financial contribution towards the Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy has not been secured. As a result, the development would have an adverse impact on the European designated nature conservation sites, contrary to Policies S1, D1, N1 and N2 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017), and the policies and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

Applications appealed

1. Land to rear of Springwood, Rectory Lane, Latchingdon

An application for the erection of five detached three-bedroomed bungalows with associated access, parking and landscaping.

Decision Level: Delegated

Appeal Allowed: 10 March

Application for full award of costs made by appellant, allowed: 10 March

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