Commercial units at Cherry Orchard Way, Rochford

What was proposed

The application proposed commercial units for flexible employment, industrial and storage uses, with offices, parking, landscaping and associated works on two plots.

“APPLICATION NO. 25/00572/FUL ADDRESS Plot 9, Airport Business Park Southend, Cherry Orchard Way, Rochford, Essex…”

“APPLICATION DETAILS Erection of commercial units operating under Class E(g) (iii)/ B2 / B8, with ancillary office space, together with parking, landscaping and other associated works (Plots 9 and 10)”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site forms part of the Airport Business Park near London Southend Airport and is allocated for employment development.

“The site forms part of the Airport Business Park, nearby to London Southend Airport and within the Rochford Town area. The site forms an employment allocation within the London and Southend Airport Environs Joint Area Action Plan (2014) (JAAP).”

“The wider site comprises a number of units, utilising a variety of use classes and of varying scales served by an estate loop road established by an earlier outline and subsequent detailed permissions. The proposal in this instance is to make use of Plots 9 and 10 of the business park which are located to the south west corner of the development.”

Officer report

Planning history

The site was part of an earlier outline consent, but that consent’s reserved matters period expired, so this proposal was submitted as a full application.

“The wider site and application site formed part of an earlier outline planning consent (Application No. 15/00781/OUT). This application included a condition (C1) whereby all reserved matters applications must have been submitted within 5 years of the grant of the outline consent. This has lapsed and as such the applicant can no longer seek reserved matters pursuant to the outline and has instead applied for under a full planning application.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Most consultees raised no objection, subject to conditions, while heritage officers identified harm to Cherry Orchard Farmhouse and design officers suggested improvements.

“Essex County Council Place Services Heritage Team: In its current state the proposal is considered to cause a mid-level of ‘less than substantial’ harm to the significance of Cherry Orchard Farmhouse as a result of the adverse visual impacts of the new units upon its setting.”

“With regards to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), paragraphs 135 (c), 202, 212, 213, and 215 are relevant to decision making, and the Local Planning Authority should weigh the harm to the designated heritage asset (farmhouse) against any public benefits of the proposal.”

Officer report

Residents’ views

No neighbour representations were received.

“Neighbour representations: No representations received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An agent from Boyer Planning spoke in support of the application.

The decision

Planning permission was approved subject to financial contributions for a travel plan and habitat monitoring, together with the stated conditions.

“10) A Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP), prepared in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan, shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by the local planning authority (LPA) prior to commencement of development.”

“Notice in writing shall be given to the Council when the: initial enhancements, as set in the HMMP, have been implemented; and habitat creation and enhancement works, as set out in the HMMP, have been completed after 30 years (30 years after the date of the Notice served on the Council that initial enhancements had been implemented). The created and/or enhanced habitat specified in the approved HMMP shall be managed and maintained in accordance with the approved HMMP.”

Minutes