New Hall Barn, Copt Hall Lane, Little Wigborough Colchester CO5 7RD

1. 1.Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act (1990), whose Section 16(2) states that the consideration of granting listed building consent, special regard should be given to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is an additional consideration. Section 16, Par. 212 determines that when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation (and the more important the asset, the greater the weight should b). Par. 213 states that any harm to, or loss of, the significance of a designated heritage asset (from its alteration or destruction, or from development within its setting), should require clear and convincing justification. Whereas paragraph 214 deals with substantial harm to a designated heritage asset, Par.215 states that where a development proposal will lead to less than substantial harm to the asset’s significance this harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal. IMPORTANT – ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE NOTES ATTACHED DC1001MWD Section 2 Policy DM16 reflects the statutory obligations as set out in S66(1) of the Listed Building and Conservation Area Act above. Section 1 Policy SP7 requires development to protect and enhance assets of historical value. Section 1 Policy SP7 states that all new development should respond positively to local character, provide buildings that exhibit individual architectural quality, and enhance the quality of existing places, while Section 2 Policy DM15 sets similar requirements for high quality design. It is considered that the proposed additional gable on the principal elevation (front extension), approximately five metres in width, would introduce a disproportionately bulky element that competes visually with the original roof form, including the historic midstrey. This disrupts the simplicity and legibility characteristic of traditional Essex agricultural structures and further detracts from the barn’s surviving architectural interest as a former farm building. It is considered that the proposed extensions would fundamentally undermine this delicate relationship, pushing the building firmly towards domesticity and erasing the subtlety that currently allows it to sit comfortably within its historic and rural context.This anticipated harm is classified in the spectrum of less-than substantial, as per the definitions of the NPPF. The scheme offer no public benefits to justify the above harm. Therefore, the proposal is considered contrary to the aforementioned legislation, national policies, and local policies.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

CO5 7RD

Application type

Full (8 Week Determination)

Scale / size

Medium

Parish

Winstred Hundred

Date validated

12 November 2025

Consultation expiry

9 December 2025

Consultation end

9 December 2025

Target decision date

10 March 2026

Case officer

Phil Moreton

Statutory period

118 days

Appeal result

l

UPRN

10095446757