17-home development changes at Land Opposite 92 To 102 Windermere Avenue, Hullbridge
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Rochford Development Committee on 25 Sept 2025.
What was proposed
The application sought to remove the apartment block’s internal lift and its western external bay and balcony, replacing the approved apartment plans.
“APPLICATION DETAILS Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) pursuant to planning permission reference 23/00274/FUL (Section 73 application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) of planning application reference 20/00332/FUL as approved on 15th March 2022.”
“REPORT SUMMARY S1: The application site has planning permission for 11 open market dwellings and 6 apartments intended to provide affordable housing under the terms of the existing Section 106 agreement. The development was substantially completed in August 2024. Since that time it is understood that the only additional work undertaken has been the installation of Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure and balconies to the first floor of the apartment block.”
Officer report
Earlier permissions
Earlier permissions approved 17 dwellings, later varied conditions and plans, and approved non-material amendments including photovoltaic panels and design changes.
“Application No. 23/00274/FUL: Section 73 application to vary conditions: 2 (approved plans), condition 5, (Implementation of Landscaping Details), 9 (Tree Protection), 10, (Development in accordance with Arboricultural Report and Tree Protection Plan) of planning application reference 20/00332/FUL as approved on 15th March 2022.”
“Application No. 24/00345/NMA: Proposed Non-Material Amendments incorporating changes relating to the inclusion of PV panels, fenestration and minor design changes Plots 1-4 and Plots 5-11 and alteration to bin store size serving Apartment Block, minor modification to west elevation Apartment Block and Photovoltaic panels to Apartment Block pursuant to Planning Permission 23/00274/FUL: Approved as an NMA 06/08/2024.”
Officer report
Why officers recommended approval
Officers considered the lift unnecessary under planning policy and Building Regulations, while the omitted bay and balcony were not needed for amenity or floor space.
“REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION It is considered that the approval of the apartment block omitting the internal lift would not be contrary to planning policy since there is no national or local design guidance including the councils Supplementary Planning Document 2 (House Design) which would require first floor apartment accommodation to be provided with mechanical lift access.”
Officer report
Consultation responses
Hullbridge Parish Council gave no recorded response, while representations raised questions about the lift, charging points, construction timing, landscaping and equality.
“Hullbridge Parish Council: No response recorded.”
“Four representations querying a number of points (but not objecting have been received from the occupant(s) of 10 West Avenue Hullbridge. Main points raised include as follows:”
Officer report
The decision
Planning permission was approved subject to the existing legal agreement, affordable housing and financial contributions, together with the listed planning conditions.
“That planning permission be approved, subject to the permission being bound by the terms of the original and existing legal agreement entered into under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act as signed and dated 10th of March 2022 and as cited by the deed of variation relating to the subsequent application made under application reference 23/00274/FUL Section 73 planning permission which was signed on 15 th January 2024.”
“And subject to the following conditions: Approved Plans…”
Minutes
Sources
- Rochford Development Committee minutes, 25 September 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Rochford'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
- Rochford Development Committee
- Council
- Rochford
- Date
- Thursday 25 September 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
- Rochford committee decisions →
This committee's year
7 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.