The Southend-on-Sea City Council Planning Committee met on Wednesday 17 September 2025, and addressed several planning and enforcement matters. The committee refused planning permission for a hip-to-gable roof extension at 5 Bristol Road, and authorised enforcement action regarding unauthorised uPVC windows at 33 Cliff Parade, and the unapproved use of outbuildings as dwellings at 246 Eastern Avenue and 47 Heygate Avenue.

Planning Enforcement

The committee authorised enforcement action for breaches of planning control at four properties in Southend-on-Sea.

33 Cliff Parade, Leigh-on-Sea

The committee authorised enforcement action to address the installation of uPVC windows at 33 Cliff Parade within the Leigh Cliff Conservation Area¹. The council found that the uPVC windows, installed without planning permission due to an Article 4 Direction² in place, harmed the character and appearance of the dwelling and the conservation area.

The enforcement action requires the property owner to:

• Remove the uPVC windows from the front of the building.
• Reinstate windows of identical design and material as those previously in place, or install alternative windows in accordance with approved planning permission.
• Remove all resulting materials from the site.

The property owner has six months to comply.

246 Eastern Avenue, Southend-on-Sea

The committee authorised enforcement action to address the unapproved use of two outbuildings as independent, self-contained dwellings at 246 Eastern Avenue. The council's report noted that a previous certificate of lawfulness application, Ref. 25/00450/CLE, was refused because evidence did not demonstrate that the outbuildings had been used as independent dwellings continuously for more than four years.

The enforcement action requires the property owner to:

• Remove internal fixtures and fittings associated with a dwelling, including showers, baths, kitchens, and beds, from the two outbuildings.
• Remove fences within the site that do not separate it from its neighbours.
• Remove all resulting materials from the site.
• Restore the outbuildings to be used solely for purposes incidental to the use of the main dwelling.

The property owner has six months to comply.

The council determined that the dwellings failed to meet minimum housing standards, had poor outlook and light conditions, and lacked suitable amenity space. The council also stated that the development failed to provide mitigation for the increase of dwellings on habitats and species, as required by the Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) 2020³, and did not meet renewable energy or water efficiency requirements.

47 Heygate Avenue, Southend-on-Sea

The committee authorised enforcement action to address the unapproved use of an outbuilding to the rear of Haven House Hotel, 47 Heygate Avenue as three dwellings. The council had previously issued a Planning Enforcement Order (PEO) in May 2025, enabling the council to proceed with formal enforcement outside of the statutory time limits.

The enforcement action requires the property owner to:

• Cease the use of the outbuilding as three self-contained dwellings and restore it to its former condition for ancillary hotel use.
• Remove any cooking facilities from the unlawful residential units.
• Remove all materials resulting from compliance with the above.

The property owner has six months to comply.

The council determined that the dwellings failed to meet minimum size standards, lacked adequate amenity space, and had not met requirements for renewable energy, water efficiency, or refuse and recycling bin storage. The council also stated that the development offered no suitable mitigation of the in-combination effect of the net increase of three dwellings on habitats and species in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017⁴, as identified in the adopted Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (2020).

Planning Application

5 Bristol Road, Southend-on-Sea

The committee refused planning permission for a hip-to-gable roof extension with dormer to rear and rooflights to front and rear to form habitable accommodation in the loft space, and to erect a single storey rear/side extension (part retrospective) at 5 Bristol Road.

The council determined that the proposed hip-to-gable roof enlargement would introduce an incongruous and visually dominant feature, causing significant harm to the character and appearance of the application site, the street scene, and the wider area. The council also stated that the proposal would further unbalance the pair of semi-detached dwellings.

Mr Bill Adlington, a local resident, spoke as an objector to this application. The agent, Mr Casey Willson-Owusu, was unable to respond to the objection as they arrived after their allotted speaking time had passed.

Other Matters

• Councillor Margaret Borton declared an interest in Agenda Item No. 5 (25/00913/FULH - 5 Bristol Road), as a friend of her husband lived nearby and had discussed the application with them. Councillor Margaret Borton withdrew from the discussion.
• The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 20 August 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.
• The committee received and noted a supplementary report by the Executive Director (Environment & Place) that provided additional information on the items referred to elsewhere on the Agenda since the publication of the reports.