15 affordable homes at The Princess of Wales PH, Loughton
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Epping Forest Planning Committee A on 29 Oct 2025.
The site and surroundings
The vacant former pub occupies a corner site near public transport, shops and restaurants, and is neither listed nor in a conservation area.
“The site comprises the former Prince of Wales Public House, located on the corner of Westall Road and Etheridge Road. It is a 15-minute walk from Debden Underground station and a 1- minute walk to bus links on Burney Drive. The site is also an 8-minute walk to shops and restaurants at The Broadway.”
“The building is not listed nor within a conservation area. There are no protected trees on site.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended approval because the scheme would make effective use of vacant land, provide affordable homes and protect neighbours and highway safety.
“The proposed development has been informed by a comprehensive pre-application process, during which the applicant engaged constructively with the Council’s planning and urban design officers. The design has evolved positively through this collaborative process, responding to feedback and refining key aspects of the scheme.”
“These comments reflect the positive trajectory of the scheme and its alignment with the Council’s design policy objectives. The proposal is considered to represent a contemporary and high-quality redevelopment of the site, making effective use of land as required by the Framework and delivering much-needed affordable homes.”
Officer report
Who spoke
The committee heard from the planning officer, the applicant, an objector, a town councillor and Ward Councillor W Kaufmann.
Committee discussion
The committee considered the merits of the application after receiving the presentation and representations.
“Planning Committee A Wednesday 29 October 2025 5 The Committee then considered the merits of the application.”
Minutes
The committee decision
The application was approved with conditions.
“RESOLVED The application for the above site was APPROVED with conditions.”
Minutes
Sources
- Epping Forest Planning Committee A minutes, 29 October 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Epping Forest'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
- Epping Forest Planning Committee A
- Council
- Epping Forest
- Date
- Wednesday 29 October 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Epping Forest committee decisions →
This committee's year
8 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.