18 Eastbourne Grove Westcliff-on-sea Essex SS0 0QF

1. 1.The proposed terrace of Mews style housing would, by reason of its scale, form, siting and design, appear as an incongruous and obtrusive form of development in conflict with the established urban grain of the area and to the significant detriment of the character and appearance of the area. This harm is not outweighed by the benefits of the proposal, including the additional housing proposed. This development is therefore unacceptable in principle as it fails to meet criterion (ii) of @southendCityC | SouthendCCOfficial | southend-city-council | southendcityc Policy DM3(2) and is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), Core Strategy (2007) Policies KP2 and CP4, Development Management Document (2015) Policies DM1 and DM3 and the advice contained within the National Design Guide (2021) and the Southend-on-Sea Design and Townscape Guide (2009).
2. 2.No Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) has been submitted such that the application fails to demonstrate that the proposal would not result in the loss of significant trees within the rear garden area resulting in significant harm to the character and appearance of the site, streetscene, rear garden scene and the wider area. This proposal is therefore in principle unacceptable as it fails to meet criterion (iv) of Policy DM3(2) and is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), Core Strategy (2007) Policies KP2 and CP4; Development Management Document (2015) Policies DM1 and DM3 and the advice contained within the National Design Guide (2021) and the Southend-on-Sea Design and Townscape Guide (2009).
3. 3.The proposed terrace of Mews style housing would, by reason of its scale, nature and layout with its main southern front aspect and proximity to the shared boundary with No.16 Eastbourne Grove, introduce a degree of perceived and actual overlooking of the neighbouring rear garden area where one might reasonably expect some privacy to be afforded. Whilst layout is a Reserved Matter, the application fails to demonstrate that a scheme of this quantum of development could be designed to have a layout that would not significantly harm the residential amenity of No.16 in terms of actual and perceived overlooking. This is unacceptable and contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), Policies KP2 and CP4 of the Core Strategy (2007), Policies DM1 and DM3 of the Development Management Document (2015) and the advice contained within the Southend-on-Sea Design and Townscape Guide (2009).
4. 4.Due to the absence of vehicle tracking data, the application fails to demonstrate that there is adequate turning space to allow vehicles, including larger vehicles such as refuse vehicles and fire tenders to effectively access and manoeuvre around the parking forecourt and to access and egress the parking spaces serving the Mews style housing to the significant detriment of highway safety. This is unacceptable and contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), Policy CP3 of the Core Strategy (2007) and Policy DM15 of the Development Management Document (2015).
5. 5.Due to the absence of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA), the application fails to demonstrate the absence or otherwise of any protected species on the site. This is unacceptable and contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2024) and Policies KP2 and CP4 of the Core Strategy (2007).
6. 6.The proposal offers no reasonable mitigation of the in-combination effect of the net increase of three dwellings on habitats and species in accordance with the Habitats Regulations as identified in the adopted Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) Supplementary Planning Document (2020). This is unacceptable and contrary to the RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (2020), Policies KP1, KP2 and CP4 of the Core Strategy (2007) and Policies DM1 and DM6 of the Development Management Document (2015) which seek to protect the natural environment with specific reference to the coastal habitats.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

SS0 0QF

Application type

Outline Application

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Not Available

Date validated

17 March 2026

Last date for comments

16 April 2026

Target decision date

12 May 2026

Agent

Edith Garland Architecture

Architect profile

EDITH GARLAND ARCHITECTURE LTD

Agent address

1094 London Road Leigh on sea SS9 2AJ United Kingdom

Case officer

Oliver Hart

Statutory period

56 days