Meadowfield Nature Study Centre, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS Data via plota.co.uk

25/00727/FUL - Full Application Approved

Proposal

Change of use of an existing building from horticultural use to residential with alterations to the external to include demolition of existing porch and erect replacement porch, alterations to garage doors and external fenestration including a new dormer window to first floor rear elevation. Change of use of area surrounding building to residential curtilage Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
6 Oct 2025
✓
Validated
13 Nov 2025
✓
Approved
30 Apr 2026
✗
Appeal dismissed
23 Jul 2026

Approved on 30 Apr 2026 · Last checked 10 Oct 2026

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Site constraints 4

Green belt: London
Inappropriate development needs very special circumstances.
Green belt policy allows a short list of exceptions, such as limited extensions and replacement buildings. Anything else needs very special circumstances that clearly outweigh the harm. Some green belt land can count as grey belt, where it does not strongly serve the green belt's purposes. The council decides this in its green belt assessment or on each application, so we do not mark it here.
Read the government guidance ↗
Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 2
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
Also on the record
Inside the Hockley and Hawkwell built-up area; Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s) had this area as grade 3, but it predates the buildings here and the current map does not class it as farmland.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 10 October 2026. 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

18 Jun 2026Withdrawn

Wadham Lodge , Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 6AF

Proposed new stables

26/00467/FUL

Nearby new applications

25 Sept 2026Pending

21 Aldermans Hill, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4RP

Proposed single storey flat roof rear extension

26/00696/FUL
19 Sept 2026Pending

2 Hillside Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4RT

Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed use - conversion of existing garag...

26/00676/LDC
24 Aug 2026Pending

Fountain House , 43 Fountain Lane, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4ST

Single storey side and rear extensions, roof alterations with loft conversion, r...

26/00625/FUL
18 Aug 2026Approved

Hornbeams , St Peters Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 6AA

Siting of a mobile home in the garden for use as a residential annexe to the dwe...

26/00511/FUL
11 Aug 2026Pending

8 Hawthorne Gardens, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SW

First-floor side extension with front-facing gable, entrance canopy and privacy ...

26/00559/FUL

Important details

Council
Rochford
Application type
Full Application
Postcode
SS5 4SS
Received
6 Oct 2025
Validated
13 Nov 2025
Ward
Hockley Rochford District Council -
Parish
Hockley Parish Council
Case officer
Show
Target decision
8 Jan 2026
Decision
Application Permitted
Decision date
30 Apr 2026
Appeal
Dismissed · 23 Jul 2026 · Written Representations · Inspectorate case 6008717 ↗

How this decision compares

Decided in 168 days from validation, 111 days slower than Rochford's median of 57 for full applications. Approved, as 86% of full applications here are.

48%decided within 8 weeks
86%approved
351decided in the last year

Plota live figures for full applications decided by Rochford in the last twelve months, from validation. Rochford decision record →

Consultation & key dates

Planning Portal ref
PP-13680580
Comments by
8 Dec 2025

Historical activity at this location

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

Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2024
Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Fell T14. Reduce 1 No. Ash within area order.
24/00881/TPO
2024
Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Fell T14. Reduce 1 No. Ash within area order.
24/00881/TPO
2024 Approved
79 Pond Chase, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4FS
Change of use of land to use as part of residential garden to No. 79 Pond Chase including…
24/00328/FUL
2024 Approved
79 Pond Chase, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4FS
Change of use of land to use as part of residential garden to No. 79 Pond Chase including…
24/00328/FUL
2019 Refused
Land North Of Clifton, Church Road, Hockley, Essex,
Construct new dwelling and vehicular access
19/00793/OUT
2019 Refused
Land North Of Clifton, Church Road, Hockley, Essex,
Construct new dwelling and vehicular access
19/00793/OUT
2019
2 Church Mews , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
There are a number of Trees that are overhanging on my property that belong to the neighb…
19/01075/TPO
2019
2 Church Mews , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
There are a number of Trees that are overhanging on my property that belong to the neighb…
19/01075/TPO
2019 Approved
Clifton , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
Part single, part double storey rear extension to provide larger kitchen and additional b…
19/00771/FUL
2019 Approved
Clifton , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
Part single, part double storey rear extension to provide larger kitchen and additional b…
19/00771/FUL
2019
Hillcrest , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
Proposed single storey rear and side extensions with roof alteration of hip-to-gable
19/00931/FUL
2019
Hillcrest , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
Proposed single storey rear and side extensions with roof alteration of hip-to-gable
19/00931/FUL
2019 Refused
Hillcrest , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
Proposed alterations to front bay window roof, hip to gable, proposed alterations to exis…
19/00369/FUL
2019 Refused
Clifton , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
Part single, part double storey rear extension to provided larger kitchen and additional…
19/00153/FUL
2019 Approved
Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Proposed detached double garage
19/00049/FUL
2019 Approved
Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Proposed detached double garage
19/00049/FUL
2018
Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Fell 1 No Crack willow. Reduce lower lateral spread of 1 No Birch to reduce end load.
18/00052/TPO
2017
Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
T14 Ash - 20% crown reduction and 4m crown lift
17/00125/TPO
2016 Approved
Land South Of Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex,
Proposed 5 no. Detached houses with Integral Garages, Parking, Hard and Soft Landscaping…
16/01065/FUL
2016 Approved
Clifton, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Demolish Existing Nissen Hut and Double Garage, Construct Single, Four Car Garage/Store
16/00553/FUL
2016 Approved
Eastview House , Church Road, Hockley, SS5 4SS
Proposed Detached Garage to Front (Revised Application)
16/00434/FUL
2016 Withdrawn
Land South Of Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex,
Construction of 6 no. detached houses with parking, hard and soft landscaping and associa…
16/00136/FUL
2016 Refused
Clifton , Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Demolish Existing Nissen Hut, and Double Garage, and Replacement With Single, Four Car Ga…
16/00189/FUL
2016 Approved
Clifton , Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Two Storey Rear Extension
16/00190/FUL
2020 Approved
Windfield, Church Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4SS
Non material amendment to Omit Front Gable Window and Add Full Height Rear Gable Window a…
20/00530/NMA
Rochford
Planning Authority Score
3.2/10
Poor
#230 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

Rochford is slower than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #221 out of 296. Rochford is also one of the strictest councils - it refuses more householder applications than almost any other, with only 81% approved vs 90% nationally.

One of the strictest councils
only 81% approved vs 90% nationally
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Rochford decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
79%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #265 of 296
81%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #275 of 296
53%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #221 of 296
36%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #112 of 296
62%
Minor dwellings approved
66 decided (1-9 homes)
100%
Major dwellings approved
3 decided (10+ homes)
86%
Change of use approved
14 decided
472
Total decisions
98 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings