Mill House Farm, Theydon Road, Epping, CM16 4DL Data via plota.co.uk

EPF/1956/26 - Demolition in a conservation area Under Consultation

Proposal

Demolition in a Conservation Area for removal of front and rear conservatories; part demolition of existing side extension; demolition of single-storey south-east wing (former stable block), detached garage and stores (north-west outbuilding retained); removal of swimming pool, tennis court and Wendy house. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
15 Oct 2026
Decision
Expected by 10 Dec 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision around 10 Dec 2026, from Epping Forest's recent demolitions.

Comments are open until 6 Nov 2026

Comment on this application ↗

Site constraints 8

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 ↗
Bell Common, Epping 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.
Council document ↗
Special area of conservation about 146 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 146 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 Epping built-up area; Priority habitat about 13 m away: Deciduous woodland; 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 16 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.

Building

Floor area203 m² (2,185 sq ft)
Energy ratingE (54 out of 100), could reach D
PropertyDetached house, 9 habitable rooms
Built1900 to 1929
HeatingBoiler and radiators, mains gas
WallsTimber frame, as built, no insulation (assumed)

From the energy performance certificate lodged in June 2021, 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
Demolition in a conservation area
Postcode
CM16 4DL
Received
15 Oct 2026
Validated
15 Oct 2026
Ward
Epping East
Parish
Epping
Case officer
Show
Target decision
10 Dec 2026
Applicant
Show

Decision outlook

Day 4 of the 56-day target. Epping Forest usually decides demolitions by day 56.

Day 452 days to the 56-day target
65%decided within 8 weeks
64%approved
142decided in the last year

Plota live figures for demolitions decided by Epping Forest in the last twelve months, from validation. Epping Forest decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 16 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Comments by
6 Nov 2026
Epping Forest
Planning Authority Score
4.5/10
Below average
#172 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Other 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

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.