The Jumbo Water Tower, Balkerne Passage, Colchester CO1 1PA Data via plota.co.uk

261841 - Removal/Variation of a Condition (8 Week Determination) Application Valid
Admin / proceduralCommercial premises

Proposal

** REVISED DESCRIPTION ** Variation of Conditions 2 and 5 of Planning Permission for the 'repair and redevelopment of Jumbo to createa multifunctional heritage interpretation & private hire event space. Partial ground floor infill, new staircase & Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
14 Oct 2026
Decision
Expected by 9 Dec 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. A decision is expected by 9 Dec 2026.

Comments are open until 9 Nov 2026

Comment on this application ↗

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Associated applications 3

Site constraints 6

Grade II* listed: Municipal Water Tower (Jumbo)
List entry 1123669 · The pin is inside its outline · 31 more listed buildings within 150 m (2 Grade I, 4 Grade II*, 24 Grade II)
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 the other 31 with distances
Historic England ↗
Colchester Area 1 conservation area
Demolition needs planning permission and permitted development is restricted.
The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.
Heritage at risk: Municipal Water Tower Jumbo, Balkerne Passage, Colchester
On the register of historic places assessed as at risk.
A designated building, monument, park or conservation area assessed as at risk from neglect, decay or development. Proposals that secure its future are looked on favourably.
Historic England ↗
Scheduled monument 75 m away: Balkerne Gate
Its setting is a consideration for work nearby.
Nationally important archaeology protected by the Secretary of State. Work that affects the monument or its setting is rarely permitted.
Historic England ↗
Also on the record
Local nature reserve 434 m away: Hilly Fields; Inside the Colchester built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt

Checked on 20 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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Important details

Council
Colchester
Application type
Removal/Variation of a Condition (8 Week Determination)
Postcode
CO1 1PA
Received
14 Oct 2026
Validated
14 Oct 2026
Ward
Castle
Parish
Colchester
Case officer
Show
Target decision
9 Dec 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
Show

Consultation & key dates

Comments by
9 Nov 2026

Historical activity at this location

31 previous applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

This property

Previous applications at this address

2025
Application for approval of details reserved by condition 5 of application 242061
251545
2024 Approved
Repair and redevelopment of Jumbo to create a multifunctional heritage interpretation and…
242060
2024 Approved
Repair and redevelopment of Jumbo to create a multifunctional heritage interpretation and…
242060
2024 Approved
Listed building application for Repair and redevelopment of Jumbo to create a multifuncti…
242061
2024 Approved
Listed building application for Repair and redevelopment of Jumbo to create a multifuncti…
242061
2016
Remove 2 x Silver Birch which inhibit vehicular access to car parking spaces
161571
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025 Approved
57 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Change of use of the Grade II Listed 57 North Hill from offices to onesingle residential…
252147
2025 Approved
57 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Listed building consent application for change of use of the Grade II Listed 57 North Hil…
252148
2025 Approved
11-13 Head Street, Colchester CO1 1NX
Placing of 1no. olive tree on pavement.
252188
2025
St Peters Vicarage, Balkerne Close, Colchester Colchester CO1 1NZ
T1 - Fig Tree - Reduce by 3-4m. To control size fro location. T2 - Yew Tree - Reduce by 1…
252382
2025
1a Parsley House, Balkerne Gardens, Colchester CO1 1PR
T1 & T2 - Prunus - Re-reduce to previous reduction points (approx. 1m reduction) G3 - Eld…
252368
2025 Refused
59 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Listed building consent application for a change of use from office toHMO providing 13 ro…
251654
2025 Refused
59 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Change of use from office to HMO providing 13 rooms
251646
2025 Approved
66 North Hill, Colchester Essex CO1 1PX
Replacement of existing signage with new Pictorial sign, Bullnose fascia with face illumi…
251220
2025 Approved
Nando's, 11-13, Head Street, Colchester Essex CO1 1NX
Shopfront alterations including replacement access hatch.
251003
2025 Approved
11-13, Head Street, Colchester Essex CO1 1NX
1no. Menu Board
251004
2024 Approved
59 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Conversion of building from office to 12 room HMO
241368
2024 Approved
59 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Conversion of building from office to 12 room HMO
241368
2024 Approved
59 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1QF
Listed building application for the conversion of building from officeto 12 room HMO
241369
2024 Approved
59 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1QF
Listed building application for the conversion of building from officeto 12 room HMO
241369
2024 Approved
57 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Change of use from offices to residential, providing 3no self- contained apartments with…
240717
2024 Approved
57 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Listed building application for change of use from offices to residential, providing 3no…
240718
2024 Approved
57 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Change of use from offices to residential, providing 3no self- contained apartments with…
240717
2024 Approved
57 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Listed building application for change of use from offices to residential, providing 3no…
240718
2024 Approved
19 Head Street, Colchester Essex CO1 1NX
To change the use of the two upper floors of Hudson, to permit C1 use as a hotel. The flo…
242247
2024 Approved
19 Head Street, Colchester Essex CO1 1NX
To change the use of the two upper floors of Hudson, to permit C1 use as a hotel. The flo…
242247
2016 Approved
St Peters Church, North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Demolish existing western steps and brick flank walls and replace with new stone steps an…
162768
2016 Approved
St Peters Church, North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX
Demolish existing western steps and brick flank walls and replace with new stone steps an…
162767
2016 Approved
Albert Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1JW
Change of use. To use the space as a rehearsal room.
161271
2016
St. Peters Vicarage, Balkerne Close, Colchester CO1 1NZ
Horse Chestnut on boundary with care home. Fell to ground level as tree is in terminal de…
161309
2016 Approved
3a High Street, Colchester CO1 1DA
Non-illuminated fascia sign. Resubmission of 151719
160005
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

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