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Dismissed14 February 20233293060

Former Odeon Cinema, 16 Crouch Street, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3ES

Planning appeal 3293060 at Former Odeon Cinema, 16 Crouch Street, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3ES (Colchester Borough Council) was dismissed on 14 February 2023 by Inspector Smith D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the significance of the former Odeon Cinema as a non-designated heritage asset and on the setting of nearby listed buildings and whether it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Colchester Town Centre Conservation Area.

demolition of former cinema buildings and the re- construction of the foyer building and the erection of a new apartment block in place of the auditorium to provide 55no. apartments, 2no. retail Units (A1) and 32no. basement car parking spaces

Authority
Colchester Borough Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Major dwellings
Inspector
Smith D
Postcode
CO3 3ES

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposed development on the significance of the former Odeon Cinema as a non-designated heritage asset and on the setting of nearby listed buildings and whether it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Colchester Town Centre Conservation Area

What decided it

The significant harm to the non-designated heritage asset (the cinema) and the detrimental impact of the overly dominant rear block on the conservation area's character outweighed the public benefits of housing and retail regeneration.

The public benefits of new housing in a central location, retail units and city centre regeneration were outweighed by the significant harm to the non-designated heritage asset and the conservation area, given the Framework's emphasis on heritage conservation and well-designed places.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy DM16Policy SP7Policy DM15Policy DM9Policy TC1Policy TC2
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 202Paragraph 203

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 applied

The decision letter

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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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