Rural Development planning

Chelmsford Development & Planning Update

Q2 2018

It has been a strong start to the year for the Development and Planning Teams at Strutt & Parker Chelmsford office.

Chelmsford Planning Team goes from strength to strength

The Chelmsford planning team, led by James Firth, is further strengthened by the addition of Paul Haggis (pictured), joining from Bidwells following the closure of the Bidwells Chelmsford office, as well as new secretarial and administrative support. This marks a commitment to growth and excellence from Strutt & Parker in both Chelmsford and the wider eastern region.

Recent successes include new proposed allocations within emerging Local Plans, as well as outline and detailed consents on sites achieved through immediate applications. The 16 strong team continues to work across a full range of planning work including immediate residential, strategic sites, commercial, education, infrastructure and employment. Linkages with the wider national planning business, led by John McLarty, and links with colleagues in BNP Paribas Real Estate are also providing new opportunities for clients and projects within the region.

Case Study: Tye Green Cressing

Outline application for up to 225 dwellings
Unallocated site, not proposed for allocation in the new local plan
Argued five-year land supply absence and sustainability of site, including enabling expansion of primary school
Application resolved to be approved - some Members stated that they would have refused it, as an unallocated site and in the face of public opposition, but that they could not find any reason for doing so

Case Study: Paxman Avenue Secondary School

Planning application Replacement school in centre of residential area
Politically sensitive redevelopment;
Prior approval for demolition granted before submission of planning application to secure the construction timetable
Determined under delegated authority within 14 weeks
No statutory objections
No pre-commencement conditions
£13.5m school project

Community Volunteering Update

The National Strutt & Parker Planning Team have chosen a series of school projects as part of their community volunteering programme for 2018. The Chelmsford Planning Team were invited in by a local village primary school to help with much needed local improvements. The volunteering project saw a team in the morning and a team in the afternoon helping with painting, weeding and building new structures in the playground all under the watchful gaze of the School’s support team and Head Teacher. It was great to see the team looking so dashing in their high vis jackets and hard hats.