The South Eastern Area Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 15 October 2025, to discuss planning application 24/00667/FUL regarding the Burnham Waters Site Office, and to confirm the minutes of their previous meeting. The meeting will be held at the Burnham Town Council Offices.

Burnham Waters Site Office

The committee will consider planning application 24/00667/FUL for the Burnham Waters Site Office, located at 1 Waters Avenue, Burnham-on-Crouch. The application, submitted by Mr Ian Holloway of Burnham Waters Limited and Mr Stewart Rowe of The Planning And Design Bureau Ltd, seeks permission for temporary use of the site office as a combined site office and community hub for three years. This would include use as a shop and cafe, external alterations, and use of approved parking spaces as a temporary outdoor seating area.

The report pack states that the intention is for this temporary use to bridge the gap until the approved permanent shops are constructed on the site. The proposed community hub/shop/café would be operated by one member of staff, with opening hours from 07:30 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday, and 08:00 to 22:00 on Sundays and bank holidays. The report pack notes that the application proposes minor changes to windows and doors, removal of some internal walls, and the erection of a 2m high fence to screen refuse storage. Following these changes, the parking areas within the site would include 21 parking spaces.

The report pack notes that the Assistant Director: Planning and Implementation recommends that the committee approves the application, subject to conditions.

The report pack identifies several policies from the Maldon District Local Development Plan 2014 – 2029 relevant to the application, including:

• S1, regarding sustainable development
• S7, regarding prosperous rural communities
• S8, regarding settlement boundaries and the countryside
• D1, regarding design quality and built environment
• D2, regarding climate change and environmental impact
• E1, regarding employment
• E2, regarding retail provision
• E3, regarding community services and facilities
• N2, regarding the natural environment
• N3, regarding open space, sport and leisure
• T1, regarding sustainable transport
• T2, regarding accessibility
• I1, regarding infrastructure and services
• I2, regarding health and wellbeing

Policy CS.2 from the Burnham-on-Crouch Neighbourhood Development Plan (2017) is also listed as relevant.

The report pack notes that Burnham on Crouch Town Council recommends refusal of the application, citing conflict with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and incompatibility with the rural character of the location. Three representations were also received commenting on the application, with concerns raised including that the development seems to be constantly changing and this change is delaying the provision of the originally agreed facilities.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2025. At that meeting, Councillor Vanessa J Bell, Chairperson, welcomed attendees and went through housekeeping arrangements. The committee is scheduled to note that Councillor Ron G Pratt, Vice-Chairperson of the Council, had sent his apologies, which were not recorded in the minutes, and that Councillor Una G C Siddall-Norman's initials were recorded incorrectly.