57 homes and commercial space at 32B Radford Way, Billericay

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing existing buildings and constructing a five-storey mixed-use building with commercial space, amenity areas, parking and 57 homes.

“PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 24/01237/FULL – DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION OF A FIVE-STOREY BUILDING COMPRISING CAR PARKING AT LOWER GROUND FLOOR LEVEL, CLASS E FLOOR SPACE AT GROUND FLOOR LEVEL, AMENITY SPACE AT GROUND AND FIRST FLOOR LEVEL, AND 57 RESIDENTIAL UNITS AT FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND PART FOURTH FLOOR LEVELS, AND ASSOCIATED WORKS INCLUDING LANDSCAPING AND PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS AT 32B RADFORD WAY, BILLERICAY, ESSEX, CM12 0BX”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 0.28-hectare site lies in an established employment area on Radford Way, surrounded by large industrial and warehouse buildings.

“The application site comprises an area of land approximately 0.28 hectares located to the northern side of Radford Way in Billericay. The site sits within an established employment area surrounded by a number of large scale industrial and warehouse buildings.”

Officer report

Planning history

The site had no relevant planning history.

“The application site has no relevant planning history.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The town council objected over flats, employment space, commercial use, traffic and parking, while several technical consultees raised no objections subject to conditions.

“Billericay Town Council - Objection on the grounds that there is already a surplus of flats/apartments in Radford Way not all of which are occupied, loss of employment space in an area that is designated for employment and although the application shows commercial use on the ground floor to qualify as industrial use it would require greater cubic…”

“Essex County Council Ecology - No objections subject to conditions requiring the development be carried out in accordance with the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, submission of a Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy, and a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan.”

Officer report

Residents’ comments

Three objections raised loss of light and privacy, construction disturbance, safety, appearance, traffic, healthcare provision and loss of local jobs.

“Concerns raised regarding loss of light, loss of privacy, and compatibility with the street scene are addressed in Sections 6.2 and 6.4 in the main body of the report. With regards to disturbance during construction, this would be for a limited time period and would not constitute a reason for refusal.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent supported the scheme, highlighting housing, community contributions, improved buildings, transport links and viability reviews.

Members’ debate

Members discussed height, outlook, possible over-development, affordable housing, education funding, housing demand, employment loss and using brownfield land.

“Members discussed the application. Some concern was expressed about the height of the building, potentially looking out of place, impacting the outlook from Cromwell Avenue and constituting over-development of the site. There was also disappointment and some surprise that no affordable housing contribution could be secured.”

“In regard to the height of the building being out of proportion with the surroundings, it was acknowledged that four-storey blocks of flats in the vicinity with pitched roofs appeared to be of a similar height. Some reassurance was offered by the CGIs. Members asked that more detailed information about surrounding building heights be provided in future planning reports.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted permission subject to completion of the Section 106 agreement and the report’s conditions.

“That Planning Application No. 24/01237/FULL be granted planning permission subject to the completion of a S106 Agreement to secure planning obligations set out at section 6.13 of the report and subject to the conditions set out at section 8.0 of the report (with any amendments that might be necessary up to the issue of the decision notice).”

Minutes