Land North East Of Little Fields Danbury Chelmsford Essex

1. 1.Reason 1 The Danbury Neighbourhood Plan was made in December 2024, it contains policies and allocations to meet its identified housing requirement and as such, provisions of paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework are engaged. The proposed development would result in residential development on a site outside of the Defined Settlement of Danbury that is not allocated for development within the made Danbury Neighbourhood Plan, thereby conflicting with Strategic Growth Site Policy 13 - Danbury, contained within the Chelmsford Local Plan (2020) and Policy DNP1: Housing Site Allocations, contained within the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan (2024). Whilst the positive elements of the proposed development including the provision of market and affordable housing are recognised, the proposed development fails to demonstrate material considerations or benefits sufficient to outweigh the conflict with the neighbourhood plan. The proposal would undermine the plan led approach to growth and the integrity of the recently adopted Danbury WEB PBCS090 25/01780/OUT REOUTZ Neighbourhood Plan and demonstrates no reasons sufficient to indicate that a decision should be taken other than in accordance with the Development Plan. Accordingly, the policies of the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan taken as a whole, significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of the development in accordance with paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Reason 2 Paragraph 56 of the National Planning Policy Framework states that Local planning authorities should consider whether otherwise unacceptable development could be made acceptable through the use of conditions or planning obligations. Planning obligations should only be used where it is not possible to address unacceptable impacts through a planning condition. Strategic Policy S9 of the Chelmsford Local Plan states that new development must be supported by the provision of infrastructure, services and facilities that are identified as necessary to serve its needs. There are site specific payments towards works and obligations in order to make the development acceptable and accord with national and local planning policies. Policy DM2 of the Chelmsford Local Plan (2020) requires the provision of 35% of the total number of residential units within this scheme for upto 26 units to be provided and maintained on-site as affordable housing. Regard must be had to the mix, size, type and cost of affordable homes to meet the identified needs of the Council's area. Affordable housing must be integrated into residential layout so as to avoid over-concentration of affordable housing in any particular location and must be appropriately weighted to ensure that provision makes at least a proportionate contribution to the categories of greatest housing need as established by the housing needs assessment and reported in the current Strategic Housing Market Assessment. Affordable housing must remain at an affordable price for future eligible households with subsidy recycled for alternative affordable housing provision. The provision of affordable housing must comply with the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (2021) and draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (2026). Policy DM26 of the Chelmsford Local Plan (2020) requires all new dwellings to comply with design specifications for dwellings including the provision of open space. The proposal would need to include a minimum of 19sqm per dwelling as on-site public local open space with children's play facility to be appropriately integrated with the final design and layout of the development. The provision of public open space must comply with Appendix B of the Chelmsford Local Plan (2020), the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (2021) and the draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (2026). The delivery of this land use and facility must include adequate safeguards in relation to futur

From the council's decision notice.

Application type

Outline

Scale / size

Large

Number of dwellings

26

Validated

12 January 2026

Consultation expiry

24 April 2026

Consultation end

24 April 2026

Target decision date

13 April 2026

Statutory period

91 days

Planning Portal ID

PP-14565737

Documents

37