60 homes at Kirby Hall Road, Castle Hedingham
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Braintree Planning Committee on 21 Apr 2026.
No officer report was published for this decision; this summary is from the committee minutes.
Up to 60 homes
The outline application proposed up to 60 dwellings, including affordable homes, with green and blue infrastructure, a play area and a car park.
“Outline planning application with all matters reserved except for access: Erection of up-to 60 dwellings, including affordable homes, together with green and blue infrastructure including a children's play area, short stay car park/drop-off zone, vehicular and pedestrian/cycle accesses and ancillary buildings.”
Minutes
Reason for refusal clarified
Members were advised that the refusal reason related to the site's spatial qualities and impact on the countryside, not landscape as it could be read.
“In an update to the Agenda report, Members of the Planning Committee were advised that following a conversation with the developer there was concern that the reason for refusal could be interpreted as relating to landscape, whereas it related more so to the spatial qualities of the site and impact on the countryside.”
Minutes
Application refused
The committee refused the application, amending one of the reasons for refusal.
“The Committee refused this application, subject to the amendment of Reason No. 2 as follows:-”
Minutes
Impact on the rural character
The committee found the proposed number of homes could not be accommodated on the site without a cramped, urbanising form of development that would erode its open rural character.
“The application site occupies an open rural parcel of land which contributes to the transitional character between the settlement edge of Castle Hedingham and the wider countryside. This character is reinforced by the low density built form along Kirby Hall Road and the clear visual separation between the village and its surrounding agricultural land.”
“The illustrative details also show substandard spacing and relationships between dwellings, limited opportunities for meaningful landscaping, fragmented open space, and an overall pattern of development that would appear at odds with the character of the settlement edge along Kirby Hall Road. As a result, it is not considered that the proposed number of dwellings can be accommodated…”
Minutes
Highway and policy concerns
The committee found the required highway works would further erode the area's rural character and that the scheme conflicted with the council's design policies.
“In addition, the works required to the highway would further erode this character and diminish the existing rural qualities of the area. There is an absence of sectional drawings and detailed understanding of the implications of the highway widening upon the existing verge and landscaping.”
“The application would therefore not be in keeping with the rural character of the surrounding area and would not be considered good design contrary to Policies LPP47, LPP52, LPP53, LPP57 and LPP67 of the Braintree District Local Plan 2013 - 2033 and the National Planning Policy Framework.”
Minutes
Sources
- Braintree Planning Committee minutes, 21 April 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Braintree's committee minutes. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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- Committee
- Braintree Planning Committee
- Council
- Braintree
- Date
- Tuesday 21 April 2026
- Committee decided
- Refused
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
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