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Allowed4 June 20253352206

Land At 444 - 456 Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea , Essex, SS1 2QA

Planning appeal 3352206 at Land At 444 - 456 Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea , Essex, SS1 2QA (Southend-on-Sea City Council) was allowed on 4 June 2025 by Inspector Dring G, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.

Erection of four storey building comprising commercial units on ground floor and 8 self-contained flats to first, second and third floors, with associated amenity space, landscaping, bike and refuse store and car parking, with vehicle access from Chase Road; elevation changes to shopfront of existing separate two storey commercial building

Authority
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Other minor developments
Inspector
Dring G
Postcode
SS1 2QA

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
  • the integrity of European sites

What decided it

The stepped design and setback of the four-storey element, combined with the contextual presence of the taller Meridian Point development opposite, meant the proposal would not appear out of place or overly dominant in the character and appearance of the area, and the secured RAMS contribution would mitigate recreational impacts on European sites.

The benefits of the mixed-use development providing residential units and commercial space in a sustainable location with good access to services and facilities, combined with the acceptable design response to the surrounding context and secured mitigation for European sites, outweighed the concerns raised by interested parties regarding noise, parking and living conditions, which were addressed through design and conditions.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy DM1Policy DM3Policy DM2 (iv)

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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More decisions in Southend-on-Sea City Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

  1. Dismissed2 October 20266009119
    456 Southchurch Rd, Southend, SS1 2QA
  2. Allowed25 September 20266007335
    Lawn Cottage, Wakering Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS3 0PY
  3. Allowed17 September 20266011040
    26 Stirling Avenue, Leigh on Sea, SS9 3PP
  4. Allowed16 September 20266012017
    290 Prince Avenue, Westcliff-on-sea Essex, SS0 0NF
  5. Allowed15 September 20266008643
    19 Southbourne Grove, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 9UW

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.