Up to 55 homes at Land Adjacent Westerings, Purleigh

Summary of planning committee decision

Decided by Maldon North Western Area Planning Committee on 5 Nov 2025.

25/00474/OUTMRefused

What was proposed

Outline permission was sought for up to 55 homes, open space and infrastructure, with access decided now and other matters reserved.

“Outline planning permission is sought, with all matters reserved for subsequent approval except for access, for up to 55 dwellings with open space and relevant infrastructure.”

“(a) The location of parcels of residential development within the overall application site boundary; (b) The overall extent of land to be used for open space, play area, landscaping, surface water attenuation and other ‘green infrastructure’; and (c) The principal point of vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access into the site and an indication of routes of movement within the site.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is a 3.48-hectare undeveloped field west of Purleigh, beside homes, a school, village hall, woodland and hedgerows.

“The site lies to the west of the village of Purleigh and is approximately 3.48 hectares in size. The site consists of an open undeveloped field comprising primarily grassland, with some individual mature trees within the site. The site is enclosed on all sides by woodland, hedgerows and residential development. The site rises upwards from the east to the west.”

“To the east of the site, is the Purleigh Community Primary School and its playing pitches. Residential development is adjacent to part of the northern, eastern and southern boundaries of the site. This is predominately comprised of two storey detached and semi-detached dwellings. Further residential development lies to the west of the site, on Mill Lane. Purleigh Village Hall lies to the south of the site.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to a legal agreement and conditions, concluding that the benefits outweighed the potential harm.

“That the Committee be minded to APPROVE this application subject to the applicant entering into a legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to secure the planning obligations and subject to conditions as detailed in Section 8.”

“APPROVE subject to the applicant entering into a legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to secure the planning obligations and subject to conditions as detailed in Section 8.”

Officer report

What consultees said

The Highway Authority, flood authority, water company, police, education authority and several council consultees raised no objection subject to mitigation or conditions.

“Name of Statutory Consultee / Other Organisation Comment Officer Response Highway Authority No objection subject to public transport improvements (financial contribution and bus stops) to be secured; conditions regarding; Construction Management Plan; provision of the access road; Residential Travel Information Pack. Discussed in section 5.7 (access, parking and highway impacts) of this report. Essex Police No objection. Advice to the developer is provided in the response.”

“NHS Mid and South Essex The development would have an impact on healthcare provision in the area where there is already a deficit of primary care facilities. The sum of £38,300 is requested to be secured through a planning obligation in the form of a S106 agreement is linked to any grant of planning permission in order to increase capacity for the benefit of patients of the Primary Care Network operating in the area.”

Officer report

The committee’s decision

The committee refused the application, finding the location unsustainable and the required legal agreement absent, so adverse impacts outweighed the benefits.

“25/00474/OUTM: that this application be REFUSED for the following reasons: The Council's strategic policies seek to focus growth in the District's main settlements of Maldon, Heybridge and Burnham on-Crouch as they constitute the most suitable and accessible locations in the District.”

“The adverse impacts of the development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the LDP and the National Planning Policy Framework taken as a whole. The proposal conflicts…”

Minutes

Sources

  • Maldon North Western Area Planning Committee minutes, 5 November 2025
  • Agenda and papers (council website)

Source: Plota analysis of Maldon's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.

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At the meeting

Council
Maldon
Date
Wednesday 5 November 2025
Committee decided
Refused
Minutes
The council's minutes
Meeting
Agenda and papers (council website)
Application
The application (council website)

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.

Every decision by this council's committees →