Planning appeal decision
Lions Farm, Langham Lane, Boxted, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5HY
Planning appeal 3372754 at Lions Farm, Langham Lane, Boxted, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5HY (Colchester Borough Council) was dismissed on 7 November 2025 by Inspector Whitfield H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to relevant development plan policies for development in the countryside.
the erection of Class B8 storage and distribution building with associated parking and turning facilities including minor widening of access driveway
- Authority
- Colchester Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- employment-industrial · Major general industry/storage/warehousing
- Inspector
- Whitfield H
- Postcode
- CO4 5HY
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to relevant development plan policies for development in the countryside
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The appellant failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances required by Policy DM6 for new rural employment development, particularly the absence of evidence of identified local employment need and failure to consider available employment land in the locality.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SG1Policy SG3Policy OV2Policy DM6Policy DM7Policy DM15Policy ENV1Policy SP7Policy SB1Policy SM1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 86Paragraph 87Paragraph 88Paragraph 89
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
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More decisions in Colchester City Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed19 October 20266009296Land West of Priory Road, Tiptree, Colchester, CO5 0QE
- Allowed8 October 20266009395Land North of Coggeshall Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, CO6 1LT
- Dismissed2 October 202660050147 East Mersea Road, West Mersea, CO5 8SL
- Dismissed2 October 202660050117 East Mersea Road, West Mersea, CO5 8SL
- Allowed24 September 20266009382Land at Colchester Rd, Colchester, CO6 3JX
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.
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