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Planning & Development Committee – 17th March 2025

Question mark - planning

Meeting on 17th March 2025, the Planning & Development Committee first agreed the minutes from the previous meeting.  The committee then discussed four Planning Applications including one for 61 dwellings off Colchester Road, another for 7 off Valley Crescent with others in Newbridge Hill and Braiswick.

Read the official minutes below.  

Minutes of the Planning and Development Committee Meeting

Held on Monday 17th March 2025 at 7.30pm in the John Lampon Hall

It is the aim of the Parish Council to seek a high standard of design for all new developments and extensions in the Village.

The Parish Council will take into account the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan, Government National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and CBC Planning Policies when commenting on individual applications.

Chair:Cllr Bob Tyrell
Parish Councillors:Cllrs Brian Butcher, Andrew Savage, Paul Chamberlain, Veronique Tyler
Also in attendance:Clerk Assistant – and 12 members of the public

Agenda items:

1.    Welcome & Apologies for absence:

None

2.    Declarations of interest:

None

3.    Minutes & actions from previous meeting

Minutes agreed, no actions.

4.    Public participation and to receive any pre-application representations.

None

5.    Planning Applications, and Appeals:

250273 Land Adjacent To 32, Colchester Road, West Bergholt Essex CO6 3JG

Planning Application: Full application for 61 dwellings and associated roads, hardstanding, fencing, outbuildings, drainage, pump station and electrical sub station.

Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided that the tenure and type of houses on the plans are acceptable and to a good design standard and in accordance with PP9 of the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan and to support the application with the following provisos:

Contrary to the NPPF recommendations, the Parish Council believes that the existing infrastructure should be considered before this development is approved.

  • Anglia Water recommends that planning permission be refused on the grounds of insufficient infrastructure capacity and to prevent environmental harm.
    Anglian Water advise currently West Bergholt’s treatment works lack the capacity to accommodate the additional flows that would be generated by the proposed development. Anglian Water has determined that the site is unsustainable due to the associated environmental risk and the increased discharge rates, which could lead to a deterioration in water quality and an unacceptable risk of breaching environmental legislation at West Bergholt’s treatment works.
    Anglia Water recommends that planning permission be refused on the grounds of insufficient infrastructure capacity and to prevent environmental harm.
  • Serious concerns have been raised previously over the amount of speeding traffic along Colchester Road, and the suggested entrance off Colchester Road is slightly obscured when travelling towards Colchester, this could potentially result in traffic accidents. It is recommended that there should be no physical obstruction of the visibility splays and additionally that the splays should be periodically maintained to retain visibility. i.e. the hedge along the site frontage requires to be trimmed back regularly to ensure that visibility can be achieved in both directions. It is not stated in the application how this will be done.
  • The Parish Council’s request for a Zebra Crossing has not yet come to fruition, noting WBNP’s PP13 also states the need for speed reduction measures along Colchester Road at the developer’s expense, the applicant’s proposal to provide a speed limit gateway we are not of the opinion is adequate.
  • Indeed, there is regular poor parking along Colchester Road on certain days, and the additional vehicles from 61 more dwellings will exacerbate the need to install traffic calming measures and restrictions before the build starts.
  • West Bergholt is also already used as a cut through to the A12, and the village is often gridlocked whenever the A12 closes or encounters an accident, the placement of traffic calming measures along Colchester Road being imperative.
  • Location of the proposed substation adjacent to Colchester Road will form a prominent feature at the front of the development. The substation should be relocated within the development to be more discrete. Planting should be proposed around the substation to soften the structure.
  • The location of the development is as site A West Bergholt’s Neighbourhood Plan’s PP9, effectively incorporating the illustrative cemetery land within the development as open space, noting groundwater conditions preclude the use of the land for such. In regard to the application boundary, whilst being at variance to that of WBNP’s, is supported.
    It should also be noted that residents of the Village have also directly raised the following issues which the P C anticipate CCC will consider:
  • There has already been an issue with foul water sewage on the Hopkins Homes development further along Colchester Road
  • The GP surgery and local school are already at full capacity and will not be able to meet the need of 61 more dwellings in the village.
  • Local subsidence is an issue.
  • There is evidence of contamination of natural water springs that feed wells locally, when bore holes were being dug.  The impact on wildlife and the environment in this area will be profound and needs to be explored further.

Decision: Support

250348  Land off, Valley Crescent, West Bergholt Essex CO6 3ED

Planning Application: Outline Application with all Matters Reserved except Access for the Erection of 7 no. Dwellings with Parking and Access.

Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided to object as the application is not in accordance with PP9 of the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan, i.e. it is outside the settlement boundary shown on WBNP’s plan PP9/1

Decision: Object

250385  Newbridge Mill Farm, Newbridge Hill, West Bergholt CO3 9TB

Planning application: Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3   (Landscaping) of application 221042

Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided not to comment and to defer to the expertise of the local planning authority.

Decision: Observation

250410  Land Adjacent To 67, Braiswick, Colchester CO4 5BQ

Planning application: Application for variation of a condition 2 and 18 following grant of planning permission 220526

Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided to object as the conditions sought to be removed are being requested to be removed solely on financial grounds. I.e. the need to provide the required net biodiversity gain and the removal of the requirement to provide social housing, noting construction of the development is well underway, are no longer said to be affordable by the applicant.

Decision: Object

6.    To review CCC’s recent planning decisions.

240964Blackheath Bulb Company, Nayland Road, West Bergholt CO6 3DE14/10/24ObjectReplacement of 3 agricultural buildings with 3 dwellings28/2/2025Refused

7. Date of next meeting:

The next Planning Committee meeting will be held at 7.30pm on 14th April 2025 in the John Lampon Hall, Lexden Road, CO6 3BW.

The meeting closed at: 9.00pm