20, Piercing Hill, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7JW Data via plota.co.uk

EPF/1327/26 - Full planning permission Refused

Proposal

Demolition of the existing dwelling and associated structures, and erection of a replacement self-build sustainable dwelling with an ancillary outbuilding. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
6 Jul 2026
✗
Refused
around 22 Sept 2026
Appeal
Not lodged

Refused around 22 Sept 2026 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 22 Sept 2026

Documents 26

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 6

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 ↗
Special area of conservation about 154 m away: Epping Forest
Work nearby can need a habitats assessment.
Harm to a protected site is only accepted where there is no alternative and an overriding public interest.
Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 2
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
SSSI about 154 m away: Epping Forest SSSI
Natural England may need consulting, depending on what is proposed.
Sites of special scientific interest are the best wildlife and geological sites in the country. Development likely to harm one is rarely permitted.
Also on the record
Inside the Theydon Bois 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 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.

Sales history 1

Last sold for £920,000 in February 2013. Detached house, freehold.

25 February 2013£920,000

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

Building

Floor area113 m² (1,216 sq ft)
Energy ratingC (69 out of 100), could reach B
PropertyDetached bungalow, 5 habitable rooms
Built1967 to 1975
HeatingBoiler and radiators, mains gas
WallsCavity wall, filled cavity

From the energy performance certificate lodged in October 2022, the latest held for this property, matched to this application by its address. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Important details

Application type
Full planning permission
Postcode
CM16 7JW
Received
6 Jul 2026
Validated
6 Jul 2026
Ward
Theydon Bois with Passingford
Parish
Theydon Bois
Case officer
Show
Target decision
22 Sept 2026
Decision
Refuse
Decision date
around 22 Sept 2026
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Applicant
Show

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 22 Sept 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Comments by
8 Sept 2026
Epping Forest
Planning Authority Score
4.5/10
Below average
#172 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Epping Forest ranks #114 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. Epping Forest is also one of the strictest councils - it refuses more householder applications than almost any other, with only 76% approved vs 90% nationally.

One of the strictest councils
only 76% approved vs 90% nationally
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Epping Forest decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
67%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #295 of 296
76%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #290 of 296
71%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #114 of 296
34%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #87 of 296
49%
Minor dwellings approved
228 decided (1-9 homes)
55%
Major dwellings approved
20 decided (10+ homes)
49%
Change of use approved
43 decided
1,307
Total decisions
429 refused in the year to March 2026

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

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.