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

Applications received

1. Land adjacent to 31 Woodrolfe Road, Tollesbury

Outline planning application with all matters reserved for the erection of a two-bedroom two-storey dwelling.

2. Wrekin Farm Shop, Burnham Road, Althorne CM3 6DT

Change of use from former farm shop and external store to form a veterinary centre with single storey rear extension

3. Land adjacent Thornfields, Purleigh Grove, Cold Norton

The erection of two four-to-five-bedroom detached dwellings, both with carports and private amenity, with the construction of a new access road.

4. Building 5 adjacent Norton Hall Cottages, St Stephens Road, Cold Norton

Prior notification for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to hotel (class C1) use.

Applications approved

1. Storage Unit, Turncole Farm, The Marshes, Southminster

Section 73A planning application seeking a change of use from agriculture to commercial storage (Use Class B8).

2. 74 High Street, Burnham-On-Crouch CM0 8AA

Change of use of two dwelling units to one dwelling, single storey extension to rear to replace existing and associated alterations.

3. Land at Osea Leisure Park, Goldhanger Road, Heybridge

Construction of new open terrace.

4. The Queen Victoria, Spital Road, Maldon CM9 6ED

Variation of condition 2 on approved planning permission 19/00730/FUL (Single-storey side and rear extension with first floor rear extension and amendments to boundary treatments and parking provision.)

Applications refused

1. Harbour Antiques, 7 High Street, Burnham-On-Crouch CM0 8AG

Change of use of ground floor front room from E(a) Retail to C3(a) Residential.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The application site is located within a Primary Retail frontage where changes of use at ground floor level are resisted, as the retention of a strong core of retail units is vital to the economic and social well-being of the Town and its inherent sustainability. The site is also located within Flood Zone 3, and this type of use (more vulnerable), would be better located within other areas of the District. The proposal has been found to be contrary to Policies E2, H3, H4, S1 and D5 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017), Policy EC.3 of the Burnham-on-Crouch Neighbourhood Development Plan, and the policies and guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021), and the principle of development has been found to be unacceptable.
2. The application site is located within Flood Zone 3 and is classified as 'more vulnerable.' In the absence of a Flood Risk Assessment, it is not possible for the Local Planning Authority to accurately assess the flood risk resulting from the proposed development. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies S1 and D5 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) and the policies and guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

2. Land at Willie Almshouse, School Road, Great Totham

Construction of two one-bedroom semi-detached cottages in the rear gardens of the existing Almshouses.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The proposal has been found to represent an inappropriate form of backland development, and the principle of development has therefore been found to be unacceptable. This is contrary to Policies S1, S8, D1, and H4 of the Maldon District Development Plan (2017), the Maldon District Design Guide (2017), and the policies and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).
2. The application site is constrained, and the proposed scheme represents the overdevelopment of the site, and an inappropriate form of backland development that would appear as out of keeping with the built form in the locality and would harm the character and appearance of the area. This is contrary to Policies S1, S8, D1, and H4 of the Maldon District Development Plan (2017), the Maldon District Design Guide (2017), and the policies and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).
3. By virtue of the siting of the cottages, the proposed development will result in a loss of privacy to the occupants of the existing Almshouses, as well as over shadowing to the existing garden land, and will appear as overbearing. The future occupants of the cottages will also experience a loss of privacy due to overlooking from the existing dwellings and overshadowing for much of the day. The eastern wing of the existing Almshouses will also appear as overbearing. The proposal therefore results in a loss of residential amenity and is contrary to Policies S1 and D1 of the Maldon District Development Plan (2017), the Maldon District Design Guide (2017), and the policies and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).
4. Insufficient information has been submitted to allow the Local Planning Authority to assess the potential impact on priority and protected species and habitats. Further, the proposal has not expressed how the development could secure a net gain in biodiversity at the site. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies S1, S8, D1 and N2 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017), and the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).
5. 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. In the absence of an acceptable Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, the impact on protected and priority habitats and species is not known. This is contrary to Policies S1, D1, N1 and N2 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) and the guidance set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

3. Wycke View Farm, Main Road, Mundon, Maldon CM9 6PB

Claim for lawful development certificate for an existing C3 dwelling without compliance with the relevant reserved matters MAR/253/67/1.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The Local Planning Authority is not satisfied that sufficient evidence has been submitted to substantiate the claim that, on the balance of probability, the dwelling known as Wycke View Farm does not benefit from Planning Permission and therefore under section 191 of the Town and Country Planning Act the Council has concluded that, on the balance of probability, that the dwelling is subject to conditions imposed on the outline planning permission under reference MAR/253/67.

4. 1 Riverside Cottages, Ferry Road, North Fambridge CM3 6LR

Two storey rear extension, first floor side extension, external stairs leading to first floor extension, addition of first floor balcony and internal alterations.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The side extension and balcony proposed, by reason of their location, design and bulk, would appear as a discordant addition to the main dwellinghouse and the row of very similar Grade II and Locally Listed Buildings of which the site forms part, to the detriment of the character and appearance of the existing dwelling, the streetscene and the setting of Grade II listed buildings and would cause a notable degree of direct harm to the significance of a building of high local architectural interest, contrary to Policies D1, D3 and H4 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan and the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework. There are no public benefits sufficient to outweigh the harm the development would cause to the setting of the Grade II listed buildings.
2. The proposed development would reduce the size of the rear garden at the property to a level that would not meet the requirements of the current and future occupiers for external amenity space and so would not provide an adequate quality of life for the occupiers of the extended dwelling, contrary to Policy D1 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan, guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework and Maldon District Design Guide SPD.

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