®Planning appeal decision
Willie Almshouse, School Road, Great Totham, Essex, CM9 8PT
Planning appeal 3333321 at Willie Almshouse, School Road, Great Totham, Essex, CM9 8PT (Maldon District Council) was dismissed on 19 September 2024 by Inspector Storey P, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would be acceptable in terms of its effect on the character and appearance of the area, bearing in mind the special attention that should be paid to preserving the setting of the Grade II Listed Willie Almshouse and Chapel.
described on the planning application form as: “Construct 2no 1 bedroom semi-detached cottages in the rear gardens of the existing Almshouses forming a courtyard appearance off the return of the existing property. The proposals will result in some site clearance of some of the trees and bushes on the footprint of the proposals, but will retain the large majority around the site and woodland. There will be no alterations or demolition of the existing listed building, and extensive discussions have been held with the local listed building officer on the design of the proposed dwellings to maintain the same design creating the courtyard appearance
- Authority
- Maldon District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Storey P
- Postcode
- CM9 8PT
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would be acceptable in terms of its effect on the character and appearance of the area, bearing in mind the special attention that should be paid to preserving the setting of the Grade II Listed Willie Almshouse and Chapel
- whether the proposed development would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers and the occupiers of neighbouring properties
- whether the proposed development would make appropriate provision for biodiversity on site
What decided it
The harm to the setting of the Grade II listed building, assessed as less than substantial but of considerable importance, was not outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal, and this heritage harm provided a clear reason for refusal under Framework paragraph 11(d)(i).
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy H4Policy D1Policy S1Policy S8Policy N2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 205Paragraph 206Paragraph 208
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
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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.