®Planning appeal decision
18 - 20 Mildmay Road , Chelmsford , Essex , CM2 0DX
Planning appeal 3360789 at 18 - 20 Mildmay Road , Chelmsford , Essex , CM2 0DX (Chelmsford Borough Council) was dismissed on 10 July 2025 by Inspector Sylvester 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, including whether it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Moulsham Street Conservation Area.
the demolition of existing single-storey vacant commercial premises and erection of a new three-storey building for mixed use (commercial and residential)
- Authority
- Chelmsford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Sylvester G
- Postcode
- CM2 0DX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including whether it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Moulsham Street Conservation Area
- Whether the appeal proposal would preserve the setting of the Grade II listed building known as Marconi's First Radio Factory
- Whether adequate living conditions for future occupants of the proposed residential units would be provided, with particular regard to outlook from the home offices
- The effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupiers of Numbers 8-13 Alfred Mews with particular regard to privacy, and noise and disturbance
What decided it
The poor design of the building's façade and side elevations, which would be discordant and jarringly out of keeping with the street scene and would harm the character and appearance of the conservation area and the setting of the listed building, combined with unacceptably poor living conditions for future occupants due to restricted outlook from home offices, brought the proposal into conflict with the development plan which could not be outweighed by its benefits.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- DM13DM23DM26DM29
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 131Paragraph 135Paragraph 212Paragraph 215
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 Chelmsford City Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed13 February 2026337538816 Judge Road, Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6GN
- Allowed11 November 2025337023952-52A Maldon Road, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 7DL
- Allowed16 July 202533456132-4 Hamlet Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0EU
- Allowed16 May 20253348289Land East of Ragged Robins, Lower Stock Road , West Hanningfield, Chelmsford , Essex , CM2 8UY
- Dismissed15 January 20253342668Tinsley Farm, Blind Lane, West Hanningfield, Essex, CM2 8UF
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.