Read this week's roundup of the key planning applications in the Maldon District, received or decided on by the Council.

Applications received

1. Papa Johns, 68 High Street, Maldon CM9 5HY

Retrospective application for:

• Sign 1 - Aluminium tray sign vinyl wrapped with 1 set of non-illuminated built up MATT finish letters painted red (PAPA JOHNS) and subtext in MATT finish acrylic. Illuminated by overhead trough light.
• Sign 2 - Projection sign illuminated by overhead trough light mounted to bracket.
• Sign 3 - 2 off frames sets of brushed stainless bars with illuminated poster frames both sides mounted internally in window void.
• Sign 4 - Pair of externally applied window vinyls applied to glazing.

2. HAUS, 185 High Street, Maldon CM9 5BU

Section 73a application for the replacement of the front door and non-illuminated signage.

3. The Old Ironworks, Fullbridge, Maldon

Retrospective application for erection of internal stud walls to form two changing rooms with showers, office and store room within a Grade II Listed Building.

4. Cartlodge outbuilding attached to south west of barn at Reddings Farm, Reddings Lane, Tillingham

S73 application for the additional use of staff accommodation as holiday units.

Applications approved

1. Land north west of 2 Maldon Road, Burnham-On-Crouch

Advertisement consent for the erection of non-Illuminated sales and marketing advertisements comprising six flags on six-metre-high flagpoles, two entrance signs, three directional signs, a show home sign and a show home parking sign.

2. New Brunswick Scientific England Limited Court, Langley House, Quayside Industrial Estate, Bates Road, Maldon CM9 5FA

Section 73a planning application for a storage tent and 12 containers.

3. The General Stores, Maldon Road, Langford CM9 4SS

Proposed rear single storey extension and new porch with internal and external alterations. Demolish the existing dilapidated outbuilding and boundary wall and replace with a new vehicular access/driveway.

4. D'arcy Court, Maldon

Three Common Limes: Crown reduce by cutting back to the previously cut points, continue practice of cutting back basal epicormic shoots and remove any dead wood.

Applications refused

1. Crouch Ridge Vineyard, Fambridge Road, Althorne CM3 6BZ

Section 73a application for a barn to be used as a visitors centre, tasting room, café and shop with associated operational development which includes an area of decking, two covered areas, extractor and air conditioning units, a gas tank, container and enlarged car park.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The development is for a café/restaurant, which is classed as a 'town centre use' outside of an existing town, village or located employment area, which due to its operating hours, size and nature of operation is not considered ancillary to the wider vineyard use operating at the site. It has not been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority that there is a justifiable and functional need for the activity within this rural location and that that it could not have been reasonably located in existing towns, villages or allocated employment areas. Therefore, the development would be contrary to Policies E2, E4 and E5 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) and the policies and guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. The application site lies within a rural location. The development, by virtue of its urban nature, the design, visual intrusion into the countryside, and siting and cluttered appearance of the operational development to the western side of the building, namely but not limited to, the store, gas tank and fencing, hardstanding and container, fails to protect and enhance the character and appearance of the rural area. The development would therefore be unacceptable and contrary to policies S1, S8 and D1 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) and Government advice contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.
3. The proposal, by reason of an inadequate level of on-site parking, would be likely to cause additional on-street parking to the detriment of the freeflow of traffic and highway safety and could also further erode the countryside. The proposal is therefore, contrary to policies S1, S8, D1, T1 and T2 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) and guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework).

2. Proposed Church Hall, Rectory Road, Tolleshunt Knights

An application for a new hall building.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The proposed development would, by virtue of the already large area of built form on site and the positioning, scale and height of the proposed hall, have an urbanising effect on the rural character of the area. The proposal would result in an unwelcome visual intrusion into the open and undeveloped countryside outside the defined settlement boundary of Tolleshunt Knights and is therefore unacceptable, contrary to Policies S1, S8, and D1 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) and the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (2023).
2. The proposed hall, by reason of its location, height and scale, would be a visually incongruous addition to the site which would cause harm to the character and appearance of the existing rural location, contrary to Policies D1, S1 and S8 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) and the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (2023).

3. Land north west of Riversleigh, Nipsells Chase, Mayland

Change of use from agricultural building to two-bedroom bungalow (C3 Use) and alterations to fenestration.

Reason for refusal:

Based on the information submitted and available to the Council, and having regard to the design, appearance, layout, character and purpose of the application building, it has not been demonstrated that the building as constructed constitutes an 'apple storage barn' as authorised by the grant of planning permission 20/00574/FUL. Consequently, the building is unauthorised development, and the Council cannot, having regard to relevant Case Law, approve an application for a permission for a 'change of use' of a building where the construction of the building is unauthorised.

4. Land south west of Lower Farm, Blind Lane, Tolleshunt Knights

Change of use of agricultural land to provide stable block, yard and menage.

Reasons for refusal:

1. Given the physical separation between the stables, menage and host dwelling and that the stable and menage are located outside of the curtilage of the host dwelling, it has not been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority that there is a functional relationship between the proposed stable and menage and the host dwelling. The proposal would therefore, result in a separate planning unit within a countryside location contrary to policies S1 and D8 of the approved Local Development Plan, and the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. Insufficient information has been submitted with regard to the available land for grazing and the storage of additional feed. The Local Planning Authority has therefore not been able to fully consider the impact of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area and animal welfare. The development is therefore contrary to Policies S1 and D1 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) and the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

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