Planning appeal decision
Forresters Lamberts Lane, Earls Colne, Colchester, CO6 2LE
Planning appeal 3325996 at Forresters Lamberts Lane, Earls Colne, Colchester, CO6 2LE (Colchester Borough Council) was dismissed on 6 February 2024 by Inspector Catchpole R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on rural character and biodiversity.
the “re-use of agricultural buildings to create 2 no. dwellings and garage/studio, along with the demolition of former piggery building
- Authority
- Colchester Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Catchpole R
- Postcode
- CO6 2LE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on rural character and biodiversity
- whether it would be in a sustainable location
What decided it
The significant harm to rural character and the unsustainable location of the development, which would undermine the plan-led system and settlement hierarchy, outweighed the moderate benefit of reusing previously developed land and the negligible contribution to housing supply.
the adverse impacts of harm to rural character, unsustainable location and potential negative impacts to biodiversity significantly and demonstrably outweighed the moderate benefit of reusing previously developed land and the negligible contribution to housing supply
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SG1Policy SP3Policy OV2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 12Paragraph 84
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Colchester City Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed19 October 20266009296Land West of Priory Road, Tiptree, Colchester, CO5 0QE
- Allowed8 October 20266009395Land North of Coggeshall Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, CO6 1LT
- Dismissed2 October 202660050147 East Mersea Road, West Mersea, CO5 8SL
- Dismissed2 October 202660050117 East Mersea Road, West Mersea, CO5 8SL
- Allowed24 September 20266009382Land at Colchester Rd, Colchester, CO6 3JX
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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