53 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1AT Data via plota.co.uk

26/01261/LBC Pending Consideration
Change of useExtensions & alterationsListed buildingsCommercial premises

Proposal

Proposed internal alteration, conversion of the ground floor Post Room into an office. This will require the installation of an internal stud wall and doorway. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
14 Sept 2026
Decision
Expected by 9 Nov 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision around 9 Nov 2026, from Chelmsford's recent changes of use.

Comments are open until 23 Oct 2026

Comment on this application ↗

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Site constraints 5

25 listed buildings within 150 m of the postcode pin
Nearest: Guy Harlings, Grade II, about 1 m from the postcode pin · 1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*, 23 Grade II
The site itself is not listed. Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.
Show all 25 with distances
Historic England ↗
Chelmsford Central Conservation Area conservation area
Demolition needs planning permission and permitted development is restricted.
The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.
Council document ↗
Also on the record
Local nature reserve about 379 m away: Chelmer Valley Riverside; Inside the Chelmsford built-up area; Priority habitat about 37 m away: Deciduous woodland.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. The pin for this application is the centre of its postcode rather than the building, so distances to nearby designations are measured from the postcode and can be out by the width of the postcode area. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Other new applications on this street

23 Jun 2026Approved

28 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1NT

Proposed painted mural.

26/00570/LBC

Nearby new applications

5 Oct 2026Pending

Back Inn Time 13 Cottage Place Chelmsford Essex CM1 1NL

Demolition of existing building and erection of a mixed-use building comprising ...

26/01296/FUL
1 Oct 2026Pending

Palmers Law Palmers House 75 Springfield Road Chelmsford CM2 6JG

T1 Oak & G1 x5 Yews- Reduce by 1m max. Reason: Overgrown

26/05204/TPO
24 Sept 2026Pending

131 - 133 New London Road Chelmsford

Alteration to existing front window to a timber door with external steps.

26/01196/FUL
24 Sept 2026Pending

1 Cathedral Walk Chelmsford Essex CM1 1NX

T1 - Cherry - Reduce crown by 2.5m and shape, Cut away from building to leave 1m...

26/05694/CAT
18 Sept 2026Pending

Hollywood Bowl 22 - 25 The Meadows High Street Chelmsford CM2 6FD

x6 Signs fitted onto 'The Meadows' shopping centre building to direct customers ...

26/01281/ADV
17 Sept 2026Pending

Chelmsford Star Co-op Society Ltd 220 Moulsham Street Chelmsford CM2 0LR

Addition of new windows to the first and second floor side elevations

26/01275/FUL

Important details

Council
Chelmsford
Postcode
CM1 1AT
Received
14 Sept 2026
Validated
14 Sept 2026
Target decision
9 Nov 2026

Decision outlook

Day 25 of the 56-day target. Chelmsford usually decides changes of use by day 56.

Day 2531 days to the 56-day target
57%decided within 8 weeks
69%approved
68decided in the last year

Plota live figures for changes of use decided by Chelmsford in the last twelve months, from validation. Chelmsford decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 2 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15109399
Planning Portal ref
PP-15109399
Comments by
23 Oct 2026

Historical activity at this location

30 previous applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

This property

Previous applications at this address

2024 Approved
T1 - Conifer Tree- Located left of pathway to Offices- Fell to ground level. Reason: Tree…
24/05613/CAT
2024 Approved
T1 - Conifer Tree- Located left of pathway to Offices- Fell to ground level. Reason: Tree…
24/05613/CAT
2022 Approved
T902 and T979 (on map)- Alder- remove major deadwood; T905 (on map)- Horse Chestnut- Redu…
23/05503/CAT
2022 Approved
T902 and T979 (on map)- Alder- remove major deadwood; T905 (on map)- Horse Chestnut- Redu…
23/05503/CAT
2018 Approved
All trees within area shown on plan - Fell dead trees to ground level - Sever ivy on rema…
18/05511/CAT
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025 Approved
Shire Hall Tindal Square Chelmsford Essex CM1 1RA
Removal and reinstatement of a section of brickwork to a chimney breast in order to enabl…
25/00575/LBC
2023 Approved
Chelmsford Cathedral Tindal Square Chelmsford Essex CM1 1TY
Public realm improvements to the cathedral precinct and adjacent areas of highway
23/01112/CLOPUD
2023 Approved
Chelmsford Cathedral Tindal Square Chelmsford Essex CM1 1TY
Public realm improvements to the cathedral precinct and adjacent areas of highway
23/01112/CLOPUD
2022 Approved
Crown Court New Street Chelmsford Essex CM1 1EL
Sycamore - (South of building within green area, adjacent wall) - Sever ivy at base and r…
22/05625/CAT
2022 Approved
Crown Court New Street Chelmsford Essex CM1 1EL
Sycamore - (South of building within green area, adjacent wall) - Sever ivy at base and r…
22/05625/CAT
2022 Approved
King William House 6 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1NT
Change of use from class B1 office space and D1 medical to class E at ground floor and cl…
22/01109/FUL
2022 Approved
King William House 6 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1NT
Change of use from class B1 office space and D1 medical to class E at ground floor and cl…
22/01110/LBC
2022 Withdrawn
King William House 6 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1NT
Change of use from Offices and Medical to Class E at ground floor and Class C3 (Dwellings…
22/00460/LBC
2022 Withdrawn
King William House 6 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1NT
Change of use from Offices and Medical to Class E at ground floor and Class C3 (Dwellings…
22/00460/LBC
2022 Withdrawn
King William House 6 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1NT
Change of use from Offices and Medical to Class E at ground floor and Class C3 (Dwellings…
22/00456/FUL
2022 Withdrawn
King William House 6 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1NT
Change of use from Offices and Medical to Class E at ground floor and Class C3 (Dwellings…
22/00456/FUL
2022 Withdrawn
1 Legg Street Chelmsford Essex CM1 1JS
Extension to existing second floor to provide 5 residential units. Ancillary works to cre…
22/00443/FUL
2021 Approved
Shire Hall Tindal Square Chelmsford Essex CM1 1RA
Replacement of the existing steps, walls and railings forming the current entrance to Shi…
21/00104/FUL
2021 Approved
Shire Hall Tindal Square Chelmsford Essex CM1 1RA
Replacement of the existing steps, walls and railings forming the current entrance to Shi…
21/00105/LBC
2020 Approved
Crown Court New Street Chelmsford CM1 1EL
Installation of photovoltaic panels to the roof.
20/01884/SUPA
2020 Approved
Crown Court New Street Chelmsford CM1 1EL
Installation of photovoltaic panels to the roof.
20/01884/SUPA
2020 Approved
1 Legg Street Chelmsford Essex CM1 1JS
Refurbishment to office building, external works to entrances and removal and replacement…
20/01125/FUL
2019 Approved
Summit House Waterloo Lane Chelmsford Essex CM1 1BD
Installation of AC condensers to the East elevation.
19/01966/FUL
2019 Approved
Summit House Waterloo Lane Chelmsford Essex CM1 1BD
Installation of AC condensers to the East elevation.
19/01966/FUL
2019 Approved
First Floor Front Summit House Waterloo Lane Chelmsford Essex CM1 1BD
Addition of roof lights and balcony to first floor office.
19/01096/FUL
2016 Approved
Chelmsford Cathedral Centre New Street Chelmsford CM1 1PH
Sycamore - adjacent Bishops parking space - fell to ground level. Reason: limb drop and H…
16/05574/CAT
2016 Approved
1 High Street Chelmsford
Proposed projecting sign & various vinyl lettering applied to internal face of windows.
16/00667/ADV
2016 Approved
Cheltenham & Gloucester 1 High Street Chelmsford CM1 1BE
Change of use from A1(retail) to A3 (restaurant)
16/00310/FUL
2016 Approved
1 Tindal Square Chelmsford Essex CM1 1EH
Retrospective application for signage to front and side of building.
15/02141/LBC
2016 Approved
1 Tindal Square Chelmsford Essex CM1 1EH
Retention of two externally illuminated fascia signs, two first floor protecting signs an…
15/02140/ADV
Chelmsford
Planning Authority Score
7.4/10
Good
#45 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Chelmsford is one of the fastest councils in England for householder decisions, ranking #23 out of 296. Only 21% of applications have the time limit extended, well below the 41% national average - the council usually decides on time. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (90%) than the national average (90%).

Among the fastest councils in England
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Chelmsford decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
87%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #167 of 296
90%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #188 of 296
84%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #23 of 296
21%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #19 of 296
76%
Minor dwellings approved
164 decided (1-9 homes)
88%
Major dwellings approved
8 decided (10+ homes)
79%
Change of use approved
52 decided
1,304
Total decisions
168 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings