®Planning appeal decision
Land to the rear of Dorothy Curtice Court, London Road, Copford, Colchester, CO6 1DX
the erection of one assisted living block (for the over 55s) of 72 units comprising 32no. one bedroom flats and 40 no. two bedroom flats and associated communal facilities; erection of sheltered housing accommodation of 18 units (as an extension to the existing scheme at Dorothy Curtice Court for over 55s), comprising 13no. one bedroom flats and 5no. two bedroom flats; together with associated access, amenity space, vehicle and bicycle parking, EVC points, hard and soft landscaping, sub-station, drainage ponds, boundary treatments and other associated works
- Authority
- Colchester Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Robbie G
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
What decided it
The scale, bulk and massing of the assisted living block fails to respond positively to the local character and context and would present a harsh, jarring transition from the open countryside and two-storey residential setting, contrary to development plan design policies.
The considerable weight given to the provision of 100% affordable specialist housing for older people and the appropriate design of the sheltered accommodation element do not outweigh the significant harm to character and appearance caused by the scale, bulk and massing of the assisted living block.
Framework references: 135
Plan policies cited: CBLP2 Policy SS4, CBLP1 Policy SP7, CBLP2 Policy DM15, Copford with Easthorpe Neighbourhood Development Plan Policy CE4
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.