Bin store at Fairfield Gardens, Colchester
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Colchester Planning Committee on 29 Jan 2026.
Site and setting
The site forms part of existing accommodation in a mainly residential area and is within Colchester settlement limits.
“Land Use Allocation 5.1 Within Colchester settlement limits.”
Officer report
Planning history
No relevant planning history was identified.
“Relevant Planning History 6.1 None relevant.”
Officer report
Officers’ recommendation
Officers recommended approval subject to conditions because the proposal would meet policy requirements without demonstrable harm to amenity or public safety.
“Having assessed the application against local and national legislation and policy, it is considered that the proposal would not cause any demonstrable harm to amenity or public safety.”
“The application is subsequently recommended for approval, subject to a set of standard conditions. All relevant issues are assessed in the report below.”
Officer report
Main planning issues
The main issues were the bin store’s design and layout and its effect on neighbouring amenity.
“The main issues in this case are design and layout, as well as neighbouring amenity.”
“The application seeks planning permission for a bin store to serve sheltered accommodation. The application site is currently being used as the existing bin location and the proposal seeks a replacement bin store in order to provide more secure waste storage.”
Officer report
Consultation responses
Environmental Protection had no objection subject to conditions, the Highways Authority had no objection, and the proposal did not affect parking.
“Environmental Protection: No objection subject to conditions.”
“Parking Provision 11.1 Parking provision would not be affected by the proposal.”
Officer report
Public comments
No interested third-party comments were received.
“Representations from Notified Parties 10.1 The application has not resulted in any interested third party comments.”
Officer report
The committee vote
The committee approved the application unanimously, subject to the conditions and informatives in the report.
“252149 Fairfield Gardens Colchester CO4 3WP The Committee considered an application for a proposed bin store.”
“RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY): that the application be approved subject to the conditions and informatives in the report.”
Minutes
The decision
Planning permission was approved subject to conditions and informatives, including secure storage, an impervious floor and limits on construction hours.
“APPROVAL of planning permission subject to the following conditions:”
“Prior to first use, the floor of the bin store hereby approved shall be treated with an impervious coating and thereafter maintained as such.”
Officer report
Sources
- Colchester Planning Committee minutes, 29 January 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Colchester's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Colchester Planning Committee
- Council
- Colchester
- Date
- Thursday 29 January 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Colchester committee decisions →
This committee's year
6 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.