®Planning appeal decision
Eastgate Shopping Centre, 85 Southernhay, BASILDON, SS14 1EB
Outline application (all matters reserved) for the part- demolition and redevelopment of the Eastgate Centre and neighbouring land to provide a mix of town centre uses, including the provision of up to 2800 residential units (Class C3) (including built to rent, open market sale, student accommodation, later living and co-living (Class C3, C2 and sui generis uses)); consolidation and reconfiguration of existing retail and commercial floorspace (Class A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, D1, D2, sui generis and/or B1 uses); introduction of new retail and commercial floorspace (flexible within Class A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, D1, D2, sui generis and/or B1uses); reconfiguration of car parking; new public realm, footpaths and walkways, landscaping, open spaces and other associated physical works
- Authority
- Basildon District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Dakeyne M
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would result in a well-designed place, with particular reference to the height, scale, massing, and layout of the proposal, in the context of the existing buildings and townscape of Basildon Town Centre
- the effect on the designated heritage assets of Brooke House, and associated structures, and the Moat at Basildon Hall
- whether the proposals would accord with the development plan overall and whether any adverse impacts of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole
What decided it
The severe shortfall in the Council's five-year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance, and the substantial housing, economic and regeneration benefits of the scheme were found not to be significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the less than substantial heritage harm and other limited adverse impacts.
the less than substantial harm to the settings of Brooke House and the Moat at Basildon Hall, together with limited other adverse impacts, did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the substantial social, economic and environmental benefits of the scheme, so the balance under paragraph 11(d)(ii) favoured granting permission
Framework references: 11, 57, 124, 125, 141
Plan policies cited: Policy BAS TC1, Policy BAS BE12, Policy BAS TC6, Policy BAS SH4, Policy BAS SH5, Policy BAS S5, Policy BAS BE24, Policy BAS T5, Policy BAS BE17
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.