The North Western Area Planning Committee met to discuss planning applications for Purleigh and Little Braxted, and to confirm a Tree Preservation Order for Tollesbury. Councillors voted to refuse the planning application for the retention of a dwelling as an annexe in Purleigh, and to approve the application for the construction of a detached house in Little Braxted. They also voted to confirm a Tree Preservation Order in Tollesbury.

Planning Decisions

Land Rear of Green Man Inn, Green Man Lane, Little Braxted

Councillors voted to approve the application for the construction of a detached five-bedroom dwelling. This was a departure from the Maldon District Local Development Plan 2014 – 2029 (LDP), and Councillor Simon J N Morgan, Joint Leader of the Opposition, had called it in for committee consideration, citing additional evidence that countered the previous reason for refusal, and arguing that it was a contentious application that should be considered in public.

The application had previously been refused because the site is located outside of a defined settlement boundary in open countryside, and it was felt that future occupants of the site would be heavily reliant on the use of a car to access everyday services, facilities and employment opportunities, which did not provide a sustainable form of development, contrary to policies S1, S8, D1, H4, T1 and T2 of the LDP, and guidance set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The current application was supported by a Transport Statement and Planning Support Statement which provided further information in support of the site's sustainability credentials.

The planning officer's report stated that officers remained unconvinced that the site is in an accessible location for pedestrians. However, the location of the Sustrans¹ cycle network indicated that the site could be accessed by means other than a private car, providing a genuine choice of transport mode in accordance with paragraph 110 of the NPPF. Taking this into account, together with the proximity of the site to the bus service on Kelvedon Road and facilities and services in the nearby village of Wickham Bishops, it was considered that the site is in a sustainable location.

The committee also heard that the Council could only demonstrate 2.7 years' worth of housing land supply, and that therefore the policies with housing targets such as policy S2 in the LDP could be considered to be non-compliant with the NPPF and therefore out of date. This meant that the NPPF requirements applied as the most up to date policy position.

The application was approved subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement requiring a financial contribution of £169.45 for mitigating the impact upon the Zone of Influence (ZoI) of the Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance Mitigation Strategy (RAMS).

Former Valentines Cottage, Crown Road, Purleigh

Councillors voted to refuse planning permission for the retention of the original dwelling building as an annexe, and the use of existing parking and garden areas, with new landscaping and improvements. Councillor Lisa L Wiffen had called in the application for the following policy reasons: Local Development Plan (LDP) policy D1 (Design Quality and Built Environment) & S1 (Sustainable Development).

The application site is located to the northern side of Crown Road outside the settlement boundary of Purleigh. The surrounding area is a mix of residential and rural open fields. The site comprises a detached dwelling (formerly known as Valentines Cottage) and a garage with a studio above.

Planning permission was sought for the retention of the original dwelling building as an annexe, with the footprint of the dwelling remaining the same, providing accommodation in the form of a kitchen/dining room, lounge, utility/boot room and storeroom at ground floor level, and one bedroom, bathroom, study and landing area at first floor level. Alterations to the landscaping to the front of the property would include the removal of the existing shingled area and replacement with first grade turf and indigenous trees. It was also proposed to permanently close the existing front door access.

The planning officer's report stated that the proposed retention of the dwelling for use as an annexe was not considered to form ancillary accommodation. The scale of the building and level of accommodation were considered to result in a building tantamount to a self-contained unit of accommodation without a degree of dependency on the main dwelling. Furthermore, by virtue of the poor design of the proposed development, which is at odds with its adjoining neighbour and the residential development to the north of the site, the proposed development would appear incongruous and would intensify the residential development of the site, eroding the intrinsic beauty and character of the open countryside, and had not allowed for the orderly redevelopment of the site. The proposal was therefore contrary to Policies S1, S8, D1, H4 and T2 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan (2017) (LDP), the Specialist Housing Needs Supplementary panning documents (SPD), and the government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The committee voted to refuse the application.

46 East Street, Tollesbury

Councillors voted to confirm Tree Preservation Order (TPO) 01/25 without any modifications. Councillor Emma L Stephens proposed that the officer's recommendation to confirm the Tree Preservation Order be accepted, and this was seconded and unanimously agreed. A Members' Update circulated prior to the meeting provided further information in respect of section 6 'Relevant Site History' adding one more instance to the site history.

Other Business

The committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2025.