Planning appeal decision
1 Rectory Cottages Essex, Church Road, Wickham St Paul, CO9 2PH
Planning appeal 6004417 at 1 Rectory Cottages Essex, Church Road, Wickham St Paul, CO9 2PH (Braintree District Council) was allowed on 2 June 2026 by Inspector L Reid, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the appeal site represents an appropriate location for the proposal, having regard to the accessibility to services and facilities.
the demolition and replacement of two existing houses and the erection of two new build houses and a single garage
- Authority
- Braintree District Council
- Appeal type
- Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- L Reid
- Postcode
- CO9 2PH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the appeal site represents an appropriate location for the proposal, having regard to the accessibility to services and facilities
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- Whether it has been demonstrated that the proposal would deliver the mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG)
What decided it
The material consideration that the proposal would deliver two new homes and provide a clear positive enhancement to the visual appearance and condition of the site outweighed the limited conflict with the development plan.
Although the proposal conflicts with the development plan, the benefits of housing delivery, visual enhancement and limited economic and social benefits outweigh this conflict, indicating a decision should be made other than in accordance with the development plan.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy LPP37Policy LPP1Policy LPP42Policy LPP52Policy LPP35Policy SP7
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


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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.
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