One house and eight flats at Site Of 33 And 35 Castle Road, Rayleigh

“Planning permission is sought for the redevelopment of the site to provide 1 No. detached house to the site frontage with Castle Road and a two-storey block of flats as ‘backland’ development. The main benefit of the scheme would be the delivery of 7 No. net additional dwellings. The scheme is also considered to represent good quality architectural design and finish. However, the scale of development is considered too great for this constrained site.”

“The application is for residential development of the site. Planning permission (23/01009/FUL) has already been granted at the site for a detached house on the north-western side of the frontage.”

“The detached house that forms part of the current proposal is the same as that approved under planning permission reference 23/01009/FUL in terms of siting, scale, design and appearance. The size of garden area that would serve the house and the relationship of the proposed house to the proposed flats are amongst changes considered in this report.”

“The proposal would fall contrary to policies CP1, DM1, DM3 and DM30 of the adopted development plan as well as to paragraph 135 of the national planning policy framework. The benefits of the proposal, in particular in relation to the delivery of additional housing would not outweigh the harm that would arise. Resolved That planning permission be refused, for the following reasons:”

“(1) The inability of the scheme to deliver car parking spaces to meet the bay size requirements set out in the 2024 Essex Parking Standards would not allow for ease of use for future occupants and is symptomatic of a scheme which amounts to overdevelopment. The proposal would also not provide sufficient cycle parking/storage including space for non-standard cycles required to promote sustainable means of travel contrary to the adopted parking guidance.”