Planning appeal decision
Apple Garth, , Cooks Mill Lane, Fordham Heath, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9TE
Planning appeal 3287983 at Apple Garth, , Cooks Mill Lane, Fordham Heath, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9TE (Colchester Borough Council) was dismissed on 6 February 2023 by Inspector Smith D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would have adequate access to services and facilities by sustainable transport modes.
erection of a single dwelling
- Authority
- Colchester Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Smith D
- Postcode
- CO3 9TE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would have adequate access to services and facilities by sustainable transport modes
- The effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- The effect on highway safety arising from turning movements on Cooks Mill Lane
What decided it
The proposal would have inadequate access to services and facilities by sustainable transport modes and would harm the character and appearance of the surrounding area, with no material considerations indicating a decision should be made other than in accordance with the development plan.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP3Policy SG1Policy DM21Policy OV2Policy SP7Policy DM15Policy DH1
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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