Lamb Cottage, Birchwood Road, Dedham Colchester CO7 6ED Data via plota.co.uk

261537 - Full (8 Week Determination) Approved
Change of useExtensions & alterationsCommercial premises

Proposal

Proposed alterations to existing workshop and proposed gym Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
20 Aug 2026
✓
Approved
15 Oct 2026

Approved on 15 Oct 2026 · Last checked 16 Oct 2026

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Site constraints 5

Dedham Vale National Landscape
Great weight to conserving the landscape; major development restricted.
Previously an area of outstanding natural beauty, which is still the designation in law. Since 2023 authorities must seek to further its purpose, not merely have regard to it.
National infrastructure project 278 m away: Norwich to Tilbury
The site is 278 m from the project boundary. Electricity line, examination closed, recommendation due.
Nationally significant infrastructure projects (power stations, electricity lines, pipelines, major roads and railways, harbours, airports and reservoirs) are consented by a Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008, after an examination by the Planning Inspectorate, rather than by the council. The boundary is the one the Inspectorate consults on and can change as the scheme does. Projects are shown within 2 km of the site.
Planning Inspectorate project page ↗
2 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: Mount Pleasant, Grade II, 17 m away · 2 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 2 with distances
Historic England ↗
Also on the record
Inside the Lamb Corner built-up area; Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s) had this area as grade 2, but it predates the buildings here and the current map does not class it as farmland.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 2 November 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Planning Inspectorate 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.

Sales history 1

Last sold for £180,000 in July 1996. Detached house, freehold.

9 July 1996£180,000

Sale prices from HM Land Registry's price paid record, matched to this application by its address.

Building

Floor area160 m² (1,722 sq ft)
Energy ratingD (56 out of 100), could reach C
PropertyDetached house, 6 habitable rooms
Built1950 to 1966
HeatingBoiler and radiators, oil
WallsCavity wall, filled cavity

From the energy performance certificate lodged in April 2024, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Important details

Council
Colchester
Application type
Full (8 Week Determination)
Postcode
CO7 6ED
Received
20 Aug 2026
Validated
20 Aug 2026
Ward
Rural North
Parish
Dedham
Case officer
Show
Target decision
15 Oct 2026
Decision
Approve Conditional
Decision date
15 Oct 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
Show

How this decision compares

Decided in 56 days from validation, about the council's usual 56 days. Approved, as 73% of changes of use here are.

51%decided within 8 weeks
73%approved
103decided in the last year

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

Consultation & key dates

Comments by
15 Sept 2026

Historical activity at this location

8 nearby applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025 Refused
Linden House, Birchwood Road, Dedham Essex CO7 6EB
Demolition of existing conservatory. Proposed ground floor side and rear wraparound exten…
250652
2022 Approved
Mount Pleasant, Birchwood Road, Dedham Essex CO7 6ED
Two storey side extension, single storey infill to rear, internal alterations and alterat…
222686
2022 Approved
Mount Pleasant, Birchwood Road, Dedham Essex CO7 6ED
Two storey side extension, single storey infill to rear, internal alterations and alterat…
222685
2022 Approved
Mount Pleasant, Birchwood Road, Dedham Essex CO7 6ED
Two storey side extension, single storey infill to rear, internal alterations and alterat…
222686
2022 Approved
Mount Pleasant, Birchwood Road, Dedham Essex CO7 6ED
Two storey side extension, single storey infill to rear, internal alterations and alterat…
222685
2020 Approved
1 Park Cottages, Birchwood Road, Dedham CO7 6EB
Single Storey Extension to house and garage in Copper and Timber
202384
2020 Approved
1 Park Cottages, Birchwood Road, Dedham CO7 6EB
Single Storey Extension to house and garage in Copper and Timber
202384
2018 Approved
The Mount, Birchwood Road, Dedham Colchester CO7 6ED
Single storey rear extension forming study side extension at first floor over existing at…
180086
Colchester
Planning Authority Score
6.2/10
Average
#91 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Colchester is faster than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #43 out of 296. Only 27% of applications have the time limit extended, well below the 41% national average - the council usually decides on time. Colchester is also one of the strictest councils - it refuses more householder applications than almost any other, with only 84% approved vs 90% nationally.

One of the strictest councils
only 84% approved vs 90% nationally
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Colchester decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
82%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #245 of 296
84%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #255 of 296
79%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #43 of 296
27%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #39 of 296
67%
Minor dwellings approved
69 decided (1-9 homes)
85%
Major dwellings approved
13 decided (10+ homes)
75%
Change of use approved
89 decided
1,074
Total decisions
188 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings

Sale prices: Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Freehold boundary: © Crown copyright and database rights 2026, HM Land Registry. Polygons © Crown copyright and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey 100026316. Conditions of use

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.