Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting and went through some general housekeeping arrangements for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J C Hughes, R H Siddall, S White and L L Wiffen.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 July 2026 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 July 2026 be approved and confirmed.

To disclose the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registrable interests and Non-Registrable Interests relating to items of business on the agenda having regard to paragraph 9 and Appendix B of the Code of Conduct for Members.

(Members are reminded that they are also required to disclose any such interests as soon as they become aware should the need arise throughout the meeting).

There were none.

To consider the report of the Director of Place, Planning and Growth, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

The Officer presented the report.

Following this the Agent, Henry Doble addressed the Committee

Councillor S J N Morgan then proposed that they approve the application in line with Officers recommendation. This was duly seconded. Upon a vote being taken this proposal was approved.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

1.              The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

2          The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans as stated on the Decision Notice.

3          The materials used in the construction of the development hereby approved shall be as set out within the application form/ plans hereby approved.

4          Prior to any works above ground level, full details of the provision and subsequent retention of both hard and soft landscape works on the site have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These details shall include:

1)         Details of proposed schedules of species of trees and shrubs to be planted, planting layouts with stock sizes and planting numbers/densities.

2)         Details of the planting scheme implementation programme, including ground protection and preparation, weed clearance, stock sizes, seeding rates, planting methods, mulching, plant protection, staking and/or other support.

3)         Details of the aftercare and maintenance programme.

The soft landscape works shall be carried out as approved within the first available planting season (October to March inclusive) following the commencement of the development unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. If within a period of five years from the date of the planting of any tree or plant, or any tree or plant planted in its replacement, is removed, uprooted, destroyed, dies, or becomes, in the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, seriously damaged or defective, another tree or plant of the same species and size as that originally planted shall be planted in the same place, unless the Local Planning Authority gives its written consent to any variation.

Hard Landscape works:

4)         Details of walls with brick types, construction design and dimensions

5)         Details of paved surfacing, with materials finishing and edgings

The hard landscape works shall be carried out as approved prior to the first use/ occupation of the development hereby approved and retained and maintained as such thereafter.

5          Prior to any works above ground level, details of the siting, height, design and materials of the treatment of all boundaries including gates, fences, walls, railings and piers should be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The boundary treatments as approved shall be retained  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the report of the Director of Place, Planning and Growth, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

The Officer presented the report.

Following this the Applicant, Anabelle Brown addressed the Committee.

The Chairperson then opened the floor to Members.

Councillor M F L Durham showed support for the application stating that he did not think the harm was substantial enough to refuse the application.

Following this in response to questions the Officer provided the following information:

·                   In terms of the impact on the heritage asset Officers had taken the view that the impact of one dwelling was not significant enough to tilt the balance to approval even with a housing shortfall.

·                   Heritage assets were considered within separate policies of the National Planning Policy Framework which deal with the tilted balance.

·                   The proposal was for a single house outside of the settlement boundary.

·                   The Council assesses each application where there was an impact on heritage assets on its own merits. As each have their own unique relationship with the setting.

·                   The design of the dwelling was different from the heritage asset. It was always best not to create a replica of the heritage asset, so the heritage asset maintained its presence and appearance.

Following the debate, Councillor Durham proposed that the application be approved contrary to Officer recommendations. This was duly seconded. Upon a vote being taken this proposal was not approved.

Councillor S J N Morgan then proposed that the application be refused in line with the Officer recommendation. This was duly seconded. Upon a vote being taken this proposal was approved.

RESOLVED that the application be REFUSED for the following reason:

1          The proposed dwelling, by reason of its close proximity to Oak Corner Cottage, a Grade II listed building, would fail to preserve or enhance the setting of this property by eroding the spacious setting which defines the character of the property, causing harm to its setting and significance. The benefits of the development would not outweigh the harm caused and so the proposal would be contrary to policies D1 and D3 of the Maldon LDP.

To consider the report of the Director of Place, Planning and Growth, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

An Addendum was published prior to the meeting detailing a few updates to the report. This included changes to the description of the application, the change highlighted that it should read a change to C2 not C3. Additional representations were received including a letter from a Member of Parliament. Also an Officers comment was included in the Addendum.

The Officer informed the Committee that there was an application in tandem to this one which was a change of use for the office building into a residential class C3 that was currently pending decision. They stated that if this application was approved the conversion of that building to a children’s home would become permitted development and as such would not require planning permission.

The Officer then presented the report.

Following this the Agent, Richard Evans and an Objector Adam Dayman addressed the Committee.

A debate then ensued between Members on the merits of the application and whether they outweighed the potential harms.

At this point in the meeting Councillor M E Thompson proposed that the Committee approve the application in line with Officer recommendations. This was duly seconded. Upon a vote being taken this proposal was approved.

RESOLVED that this application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

1          The change of use hereby permitted shall begin before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

2          The use of the premises as a children’s home (Class C2) hereby permitted shall cease when the property is no longer required for that purpose, and the property shall revert to its previous use as a single-family dwellinghouse (Class C3) within three months of cessation of the care home use.

3          The children's home hereby permitted shall be occupied by no more than three children at any one time.

4          Prior to its first use as a children’s care home, a scheme to ensure that the internal noise levels would meet the guideline values’ specified within BS8233:2014 ‘Guidance on Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings’ shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

5          The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans as shown listed in the table below.