Nine homes at Former Council Depot New Street Dunmow, Great Dunmow

“Access to the site is via the New Street Public Car Park, which is reached from New Street by a narrow vehicular and pedestrian route situated between Nos. 7 and 9 New Street. The depot sits beyond the public car park, with no direct street frontage of its own. This arrangement formed the historic operational access for depot vehicles and continued to act as the sole point of access to the development site.”

“The application seeks full planning permission for the demolition of the former council depot buildings (approx. 262.5 sqm) and the erection of nine dwellings (Use Class C3) on the 0.24 ha site at the former New Street Depot, Great Dunmow. The proposed mix comprises 7 no. three-bed houses and 2 no. four-bed houses, arranged as a compact, infill cul-de-sac.”

“The application site comprises the former Uttlesford District Council Depot, located to the east of New Street within the built-up area of Great Dunmow. The site lies to the south of the town centre and sits just outside but immediately adjacent to the Great Dunmow Conservation Area, forming part of its wider setting. The Planning Statement confirms that the site is within the settlement boundary and within walking distance of the High Street and town centre services.”

“The site extends to approximately 0.24 hectares and the level drops as you enter the site. Historically the site accommodated the Council’s waste and operational depot. It is currently a predominantly hard-surfaced yard, containing a single-storey industrial building, ancillary outbuildings and areas of sealed surfacing formerly associated with depot operations.”

“The application proposes the demolition of the former Council depot at New Street, Great Dunmow and the redevelopment of the 0.24ha brownfield site to deliver nine new dwellings. The site lies within the Development Limits and occupies a highly accessible and sustainable location close to the town centre.”

“While the scheme would provide some benefits through the redevelopment of a redundant brownfield site and the delivery of nine dwellings, these benefits do not outweigh the identified harms relating to design quality, highways safety, landscape and tree loss, and unresolved contamination and drainage impacts. The proposal therefore does not represent sustainable development when assessed against the development plan and the NPPF as a whole and is recommended for refusal.”

“Great Dunmow Town Council`s Planning and Transport Committee wish to support this application.”

“Site surrounded by Conservation Area and nearby listed/locally listed buildings, sensitive heritage context. • Redevelopment of former depot supported in principle, but current design does not respond well to heritage setting or site constraints. • Lack of Heritage Statement limits understanding of heritage impacts. • Concerns with layout, massing and architectural approach, including awkward orientation of Plots 1-2 and unjustified removal of an important oak tree.”

“Construction impacts (dust, asbestos, noise). • Access safety, parking, and traffic. • Boundary treatments and maintenance. • Tree species, root spread, and privacy/amenity concerns.”

“Multiple representations objected to the proposed removal of a mature oak tree (T7), including detailed requests for a Tree Preservation Order and concerns about the ecological, landscape, and Conservation Area value of the tree. Residents also queried new tree species proposed elsewhere on the site.”

“In response to questions from Members, officers: • Said that the Council had been in regular contact with the applicant.”

“Members discussed: • The principle of development being good but not for this scheme. • There being too many houses being proposed.”

“Councillor Church proposed refusal of the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Emanuel.”

“RESOLVED that the Strategic Director of Planning be authorised to refuse for the reasons set out in section 17 of the report.”