South Ockendon Hall Farm, North Road, South Ockendon, Essex, RM15 6SJ

‘Construction of new farm vehicular access and associated farm track’

Authority: Thurrock Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: agricultural · Other minor developments
Inspector: Chamberlain G

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposed development on trees and biodiversity
The effect of the proposed development on highway safety
Whether the proposal would preserve the setting of Gatehouse and Moat of South Ockendon Old Hall (SAM) and Moat Bridge and Gatehouse at South Ockenden Old Hall (Grade II Listed)

What decided it

The appellant's failure to provide an arboricultural assessment and preliminary ecological assessment to justify and assess the significant loss of trees, hedgerow and habitat, which resulted in a conflict with the development plan that could not be outweighed by the scheme's benefits.

Plan policies cited: Policy PMD2, Policy PMD7, Policy PMD9, Policy PMD4

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- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
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- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
- Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.
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