®Planning appeal decision
15 Newnham Street, Ely, CB7 4PG
Planning appeal 6009280 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
- minor · Planning
- 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 material evidence of commercial failure since 2007/8 and the peripheral, sub-optimal location of the unit in relation to the city centre outweighed the policy conflict, and residential use would better secure the long-term viability and conservation of the listed building.
The conflict with Policy COM2 was outweighed by the material considerations of the unit's proven commercial unviability, peripheral location, and the benefits of residential use for the long-term conservation of 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 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.