Unit A, Caxton Court, Newcomen Way, Colchester CO4 9TG Data via plota.co.uk

261885 - Full (8 Week Determination) Application Valid
Change of useSchools, care & communityCommercial premises

Proposal

Proposed change of use of warehouse and adjoining office to indoor padel facility and pilates studio (use class E(d)) and ancillary facilities including co-working space and cafe Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
21 Oct 2026
Decision
Expected by 16 Dec 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision around 16 Dec 2026, from Colchester's recent changes of use.

Comments are open until 16 Nov 2026

Comment on this application ↗

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Site constraints 3

National infrastructure project 1039 m away: Norwich to Tilbury
The site is 1039 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 ↗
Also on the record
Inside the Colchester 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 listed building at the site

Checked on 27 October 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.

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Important details

Council
Colchester
Application type
Full (8 Week Determination)
Postcode
CO4 9TG
Received
21 Oct 2026
Validated
21 Oct 2026
Ward
Highwoods
Parish
Colchester
Case officer
Show
Target decision
16 Dec 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
Show

Decision outlook

Day 7 of the 56-day target. Colchester usually decides changes of use by day 56.

Day 749 days to the 56-day target
55%decided within 8 weeks
72%approved
80decided 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
16 Nov 2026

Historical activity at this location

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

Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2024 Approved
41 Heckworth Close, Colchester Essex CO4 9TB
Formation of internal office space, changes to existing windows & additional windows to t…
241772
2024 Approved
41 Heckworth Close, Colchester Essex CO4 9TB
Formation of internal office space, changes to existing windows & additional windows to t…
241772
2021 Approved
Orwell Trucks, 44 Heckworth Close, Colchester CO4 9TB
Change of use from B2 truck workshop and storage use to van hire storage and maintenance…
213074
2021 Approved
38 Heckworth Close, Colchester CO4 9TB
Rear extension to form new storage areas
213011
2018 Approved
CCF, Catalyst House, Newcomen Way, Colchester CO4 9TG
Install 6 bays of cantilever racking along the north and northwest boundary, to match the…
182822
2016 Approved
39 Heckworth Close, Colchester CO4 4TB
Change of use to A3 / D2 / Sui Generis (amended drawings)
163209
Colchester
Planning Authority Score
6.2/10
Average
#91 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

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