Eight bungalows at Ashpark House, Peldon Road, Abberton, Colchester

“Synopsis 2.1 The application seeks outline planning permission for the demolition of existing care home building together with associated structures and erection of up to 8 single-storey bungalows. All matters are reserved for later approval other than means of access.”

“Site Description and Context 3.1 The site is located on the Southern edge of Abberton and on the West side of Peldon Road. The site currently comprises of an existing residential care home (eleven bedrooms) and associated outbuildings that has been out of use since around 2019.”

“The site lies partially within and partially outside the Abberton village settlement development envelope with the below map extract demonstrating this (black line indicating the Settlement Boundary):”

“DC0901MWeV9.9 17.2 The principle of development is considered acceptable with the site considered to be located within a sustainable location and outline permission for residential development having been previously approved. Although part of the site is outside of the settlement boundary, it is considered to be adjoining the boundary and therefore acceptable as no resultant harm to the wider landscape or settlement character can be identified.”

“Turning to wider matters of sustainability, the NPPF notes that sustainable development has three strands to sustainable development namely the social, economic and environmental. In terms of the social strand this scheme will deliver up to 8 dwellings which will contribute to the Council’s housing supply. This is a strong social benefit with regards to the surrounding community which is afforded significant weight.”

“Arboricultural Officer - The revised layout represents a material improvement over the original submission. The repositioning and reduction of plot footprints has eliminated RPA encroachment on T12, T11 and G3, and has reduced impacts on T1 and T5 to levels that, while at or marginally above the BS5837:2012 threshold, are capable of being managed through properly specified no-dig construction, detailed method statements and rigorous construction-phase supervision.”

“The residual encroachments on T1 (22%) and T5 (20%) are not ideal and leave limited margin. However, I accept the broad arboricultural logic that no-dig cellular confinement systems, properly installed and supervised, can maintain the rooting environment beneath hard surfacing, and that the long-term retention of these trees is achievable provided the detailed technical documents are of sufficient quality.”

“(a)a non-technical summary; (b)the roles and responsibilities of the people or organisation(s) delivering the (HMMP); (c)the planned habitat creation and enhancement works to create or improve habitat to achieve the biodiversity net gain in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan; (d)the management measures to maintain habitat in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan for a period of 30 years from the completion of development; and (e)the monitoring…”

“Every planning permission granted for the development of land in England shall be deemed to have been granted subject to the following condition precedent: Development may not be begun unless a) a biodiversity gain plan has been submitted to the planning authority, and b) the planning authority has approved the plan.”

“RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY): that the application be APPROVED subject to the completion of a section 106 (RAMS payment, Communities and parks and recreation contributions, BNG monitoring), any non-material changes to the conditions delegated to the Heads of Planning and subject to the conditions and informatives in the report and Amendment Sheet.”