360-home residential development at Benson Close, Burnham-on-Crouch

What was proposed

The hybrid application proposed 360 homes in two phases, open space, access, drainage and infrastructure while retaining employment land.

“Application Number 26/00018/FULM Location Land West of Edmond Street and Newman Drive and Benson Close, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex Proposal Hybrid planning application for a residential-led development comprising full planning permission for the construction of 170 dwellings (including market and affordable homes) (Use Class C3), vehicular access points, public open space, sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), and associated infrastructure; and outline planning permission…”

“Outline permission (Phase 2) is sought for up to 190 further dwellings with all matters reserved apart from access, together with public open space and infrastructure. Combined, the two phases would therefore provide a maximum of 360 new dwellings. The employment parcel would remain available for E(g), B2 and B8 uses. The current parameter plans are the P11 concept plan, P08 movement and access plan, P07 land use plan, P06 building height plan and P06 density plan.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 23.44-hectare site is open farmland on Burnham-on-Crouch’s western edge, adjoining housing, employment land, countryside and a railway.

“Site and Surroundings 3.1.1 The application site comprises an area of open farmland extending to approximately 23.44 hectares in area, located to the western edge of the settlement of Burnham-on- Crouch. This site is accessed via an existing residential development at Corinthian Place (under construction and nearing completion) which lies to the east of the site and provides vehicular access to Maldon Road via Endeavour Way.”

“A Public Right of Way (PRoW) (Footpath 3) crosses the site north to south, connecting the site and surrounding neighbourhoods to a pedestrian railway crossing and the riverside path network to the south.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways, drainage, ecology and other consultees raised issues that were addressed or remained subject to final confirmation, conditions and legal obligations.

“Name of Statutory Consultee / Other Organisation Comment Officer Response Essex County Council Highways Initial objection to junction design and improvements at North Fambridge overcome – awaiting final confirmation Technical Note 2507- 022/TN03 Issue V2 corrects and recalibrates the modelling and provides mitigation as set out within the report.”

“Natural England Earlier response requested winter- bird/HRA evidence and questioned the scale of recreational mitigation – updated response confirming new survey acceptable. Noted - Final confirmation required prior to issue of decision. Place Services Ecology March holding objection on functionally linked land, wintering birds, skylark and mitigation. Supports the application-stage BNG metric and specifies phased BNG/HMMP requirements.”

Officer report

What residents said

Ten objections raised concerns about infrastructure, traffic, railway safety, public transport, drainage, ecology, landscape, amenity and construction disturbance.

“Existing and committed growth is said to have outpaced roads, schools, healthcare, utilities, employment and community facilities. See Principle of Development and Education, Health, Waste and Community Infrastructure. The allocated scheme must secure its own necessary mitigation; the Section 106 heads identify the evidence- based requirements.”

“See Active Travel, Public Rights of Way and Railway Safety. The amended links, Route 3 works, zebra crossing and monitored Travel Plan are acceptable subject to formal confirmation. Schools, healthcare and emergency services Residents report full schools, pressure on GP/hospital services and concern about ambulance capacity. See Education, Health, Waste and Community Infrastructure.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector and the applicant addressed the committee after the officer presentation.

What members debated

Members discussed highway safety, railway-crossing mitigation, housing mix, early highway works and whether an inclusive safe space could be secured.

“In response to comments made regarding highway safety, Members were informed that a detailed Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) had been submitted and would provide a considerable amount of protection in terms of residential amenity and highway safety. In addition, ECC Highways had examined the traffic movements and proposed junction, and was satisfied that the movements, in combination with the proposed mitigation, would be acceptable.”

“The housing mix condition would apply to the whole of the scheme and reference to the whole scheme could be added to the resolution. • In respect of the proposed highway work, a two-phase approach was being proposed, with works to Church Road and a pedestrian crossing being completed prior to the occupation of Phase 1 and the works to Kitts Hill prior to the occupation of Phase 2.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to final consultee responses, railway-crossing funding, a Section 106 agreement and conditions, including whole-site housing mix controls.

“Home Office Violence Against Women and Girls agenda. It was questioned whether such a space could be secured by condition. In response, Officers suggested that the condition could be worded to ensure that it provided a fully inclusive and safe space, with no one feeling excluded. The Chairperson then put the proposal in the name of Councillor Fluker to approve the application in accordance with the recommendation set out in the Addendum.”

“This may include any additions, amendments or delegations agreed by the Director of Place, Planning and Growth where necessary to ensure the development was acceptable and satisfied the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations, following discussions with the Highways Authority and Network Rail; and c) subject to the planning conditions detailed below, with amendment to the housing mix condition to specify that it related to the entire site.”

Minutes