®Planning appeal decision
15 Newnham Street, Ely, CB7 4PG
Planning appeal 6009239 at 15 Newnham Street, Ely, CB7 4PG (East Cambridgeshire) was allowed on 3 August 2026 by Inspector David Reed, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the loss of the commercial unit would harm the vitality and viability of the city centre.
the change of use of the ground floor from Class E to Class C3, the blocking of 1 rear door and retention of 2 parking spaces at the rear of the building
- Authority
- East Cambridgeshire
- Appeal type
- other · Planning listed building and conservation area
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- David Reed
- Postcode
- CB7 4PG
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the loss of the commercial unit would harm the vitality and viability of the city centre
- Whether the proposed loss of the commercial unit would risk the long-term viability of the Grade II listed building and thus fail to ensure its continuing conservation
What decided it
The sub-optimal nature of the commercial unit and its peripheral city centre location with little passing footfall, evidenced by six business failures since 2007/8, outweighed the policy conflict and demonstrated that residential use would better secure the listed building's long-term conservation and viability.
The conflict with Policy COM2 was outweighed by material considerations of the unit's proven commercial unviability, peripheral location, and the superior long-term conservation prospects of residential use for the listed building
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy COM2Policy ENV12
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 authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Dismissed15 August 20253363755East of 38A Chapel Lane, Wicken, CB7 5XZ
- Allowed15 August 20253357194Site to the East of 38A Chapel Lane, Wicken, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5XZ
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.