- Decision
- dismissed, 28 August 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: R Dickson
- Authority
- Havering (London)
- Appeal reference
- 6009193
- Application reference
- J0004.26
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Class MA prior approval — upper-floor retail storage to 2 x 1-bed flats
- Homes
- 2
- Site context
- inside settlement
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- GPDO Class MA.2(2)(d), P4
- Main issues
- Class MA noise from commercial premises
Summary
Class MA prior approval for two flats above a Romford shop was refused on the MA.2(2)(d) noise criterion. The noise survey covered only a single weekday, next to a leisure park and a kebab shop, so it was not robust (DL ¶11). The revised Framework was "broadly consistent" and was applied only so far as relevant to noise (DL ¶¶2, 6).
What made the difference
The survey period was unrepresentative, and the consultant's own recommendation for a further ventilation and overheating assessment left the mitigation's adequacy uncertain (DL ¶12).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPDO Class MA.2(2)(d) | fail | 24-hour weekday noise survey unrepresentative of weekend activity at The Brewery leisure park and adjacent kebab shop plant (DL 9-13) | |
| P3(2)(a) | fail | Framework had regard to only as relevant to noise (W.10(b)) (DL 6) |
Key facts
- Backs onto Exchange Street service route and The Brewery retail/leisure park
- Noise report itself recommended a further Level 2 ventilation/overheating assessment
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.