Planning permission secured for the redevelopment of a site adjacent to an AONB and listed building
We are delighted to have secured planning for the development of 22-dwellings on a dilapidated site in Horkesley Hamlet, Essex, just to the north of Colchester. This site is located adjacent to the Dedham Vale AONB and the Grade I Listed Church of All Saints and as such required a very sensitive approach.
The Proposed Sceme
The proposed scheme involved the removal of the now redundant glasshouses and ancillary buildings, which had blighted the area for a number of years, and their replacement with a new residential scheme comprising of 18x market dwellings and 4x affordable dwellings, along with enhancement measures to improve the setting to both the AONB and the Church of All Saints.
The Planning History and Context
The site had been subject to a planning appeal to consider its redevelopment. Whilst that planing appeal was unsuccessful, it the Planning Inspector gave encouragement and agreed that its redevelopment was acceptable in principle.
The site had formerly contained industrial scale agricultural buildings that were deemed an ‘eyesore’ that had a negative impact on the setting of the AONB. These utilitarian structures were very prominent in the landscape and closer views from public footpaths in the AONB, and was considered a harmful visual impact on the character of their rural surroundings, the adjacent Listed Buildings and AONB.
This was a highly contentious site on the edge of the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with a long and acrimonious planning history.
A Planning Inspector considering an earlier Planning Inquiry had commented although this land was not technically previously developed land, a development-led solution was required to resolve the future of the site.
The Planning and Design Process
Given the landscape and heritage constraints, this project required early consultations with local stakeholders and Historic England.
The conclusion of this early engagement was that for the development to contribute positively to the special landscape character of the AONB and the setting the nearby listed buildings, the proposed dwellings would have to be individually designed to reflect local character.
The dwellings would then have to be arranged in manner that was informed by the historic evolution of rural settlements, taking into account their uniqueness, juxtaposition and function.
The approved scheme was well-considered, giving a sense of historic progression in this very sensitive setting whilst delivering high-quality beautifully detailed homes. Further images of the development can be viewed at this link.
Essex Design Guide: Exemplar Case Study
We are very proud that this scheme at Horkesley Hamlet has been recognised by Place Services at Essex County Council and was included in the Essex Design Guide as an exemplar case study. Further details can be found on the Essex Design Guide’s website.
Contact Our Planning Team
ADP is an architecture, design and planning consultancy. Our team of architects and planning consultants provide clients with wide ranging planning assistance, from applications and appeals to local plan representations and public consultations.
If you need architectural or planning support, then contact the team via mail@adpltd.co.uk to see how we can assist you. We would be delighted to help.
