Brock Farm Ingatestone Road Stock Ingatestone Essex CM4 9PD

1. 1.Reason 1 Policy DM23 of the Chelmsford Local Plan states that planning permission will be granted for development that respects the character and appearance of the area. Development must be compatible with its surroundings having regard to boundary treatments and landscape. Policy DM16 of the Chelmsford Local Plan states that all development proposals should conserve and enhance the network of habitats, species and sites of local importance commensurate with their status and give appropriate weight to their importance. They should also deliver a net gain in biodiversity by creating, restoring and enhancing habitats. The location of the development is within the Green Belt in a distinctly rural area. It is surrounded by open fields and sporadic dwellinghouses and farm buildings. It is visible when driving in both directions along Ingatestone Road and is highly visible from Public Right of Way 235_34 due to its elevated position. The current scheme does not deliver any of the benefits of the previously approved scheme. The six trees have not been planted and there are no wildflowers or native hedgerows. The introduction of Californian Privet hedging in such a rural location is urbanising and totally unsuitable for the rural nature of the area. In addition, some of the boundaries have been left with no landscaping, such as the northern and western boundaries of plot 3. Overall, this scheme is an inferior proposal to that approved and is not compatible with its surroundings. The scheme does not comply with Policy DM23 and DM16 of the Chelmsford Local Plan. WEB PBCS090 20/01564/S73/4 REMATZ Reason 2 The hedge planting, Californian Privet and Evergreen Spindle, at each side of the principle vehicular access to the development is positioned inside the fence boundary to each side of the driveway width: Over time, the outgrowth of the hedge planted within the driveway boundary would reduce the effective width, preventing opposing vehicles simultaneously passing within the driveway extent and clear of the Ingatestone Road carriageway clear of the limits of the highway. This would result in vehicles reversing back into the Ingatestone Road carriageway, with increased risk of collisions to the detriment of highway safety. It appears from the Highway Authority records that the hedgerow, Photina Red, would be planted within the highway verge to the north of Plot 4 and consequently, over time, the outgrowth and overgrowth would obstruct the visibility splays to the principle vehicular access to Ingatestone Road, to the detriment of highway safety.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

CM4 9PD

Application type

Conditions

Scale / size

Small

Validated

4 March 2026

Consultation expiry

8 April 2026

Consultation end

8 April 2026

Target decision date

29 April 2026

Statutory period

56 days

Planning Portal ID

PP-14626535