Former Congregational Church, Fingringhoe Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8EB

Planning appeal 3341068 at Former Congregational Church, Fingringhoe Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8EB (Colchester Borough Council) was dismissed on 19 November 2024 by Inspector Jones H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development complies with the relevant development plan policy which protects and provides for community facilities.

demolition of former Old Heath Congregational Church and construction of a pair of 3 bedroomed semi-detached houses and associated works

Authority: Colchester Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Jones H
Postcode: CO2 8EB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposed development complies with the relevant development plan policy which protects and provides for community facilities
The effects of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area including the effects of the loss of the former Congregational Church building as a non-designated heritage asset
Whether the proposed development would satisfactorily address any risks posed by site contamination

What decided it

The proposal conflicts with the development plan on three independent grounds: inadequate community facility provision due to an undated and unreliable undertaking, unacceptable harm to character and appearance through loss of a non-designated heritage asset and poor design quality, and failure to assess and address contamination risks.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy 2Policy SP7Policy DM15Policy ENV1Policy DM16Policy DM13Policy ENV5

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.

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The decision letter

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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024

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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.