Basilica House, 334 Southend Road, Wickford, SS11 8QS

Planning appeal 3362491 at Basilica House, 334 Southend Road, Wickford, SS11 8QS (Basildon District Council) was dismissed on 24 July 2025 by Inspector Marriott H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.

‘convert existing offices and add second storey to create four no 1-bedroom flats and four no 2-bedroom flats with allocated parking, cycle stores and refuse store’

Authority: Basildon District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Marriott H
Postcode: SS11 8QS

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers with particular regard to privacy and outlook
whether the proposed development would provide suitable living conditions for future occupiers, with particular regard to outdoor amenity space

What decided it

The significant and demonstrable harm to the character and appearance of the area caused by the incongruous third storey outweighed the modest housing and economic benefits, even when assessed against the tilted balance of paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.

the adverse impacts of the proposal, particularly significant harm to character and appearance, would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing delivery and economic contributions when assessed against the policies of the Framework taken as a whole

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy BAS BE12
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 131Paragraph 135

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 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.