- Decision
- approved, 2 September 2026
- Decided by
- Council planning committee: Maldon District Planning Committee
- Authority
- Maldon (East of England)
- Application reference
- 26/00018/FULM
- Procedure
- committee
- Development
- Hybrid — full permission for 170 dwellings, outline for up to 190 dwellings (40% affordable), retention of employment land, open space, bridleway
- Homes
- 360
- Site context
- open countryside, settlement edge
- Green Belt
- No
- Housing land supply
- 4.1 years
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- S5(1)(j)(i), S3, TR3, HO7
- Development plan policies
- Maldon LDP 2017 S2, S6 (Burnham-on-Crouch strategic allocations), E1, H1
- Main issues
- S5(1)(j); landscape; highways phasing
Summary
Up to 360 homes as a westward extension of an allocated Burnham-on-Crouch strategic site that is under construction. Approved under S5(1)(j): 4.1-year supply, physically well related, infrastructure secured. Officers: "The identified adverse effects do not substantially outweigh the significant housing and affordable-housing benefits" (Report ¶3.1.17).
Issues and findings
- S5(1)(j). "The proposal relates directly to the existing strategic allocation and addresses an evidenced housing-supply shortfall in a location physically well related to Burnham-on-Crouch and capable of being supported by the necessary infrastructure" (¶3.1.11).
- Location. The station is about 1.6 km away, a 20-minute walk (¶5.1.16). Some amenity routes are "towards the upper end of a convenient walking journey" (¶5.1.15).
- Deliverability was treated as part of the benefit: Phase 1 from April 2027 "ensuring that this housing would be delivered within the 5-Year Housing Land Supply (5YHLS) period" (¶3.1.12).
Transferable points
- An extension of an allocation under construction is a natural S5(1)(j) "well-related" case (¶3.1.11).
- Delivery within the five-year period was used to add weight to the housing benefit (¶3.1.12).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| S5(1)(j)(i) | pass | adjoins and is accessed through allocated Burnham-on-Crouch West scheme under construction; 4.1-year supply; infrastructure via S106/S278 | |
| TR3 | pass | Burnham station c.1.6 km (20 min walk); several amenities 'towards the upper end of a convenient walking journey'; railway crossing safety contribution | |
| HO7 | benefit | substantial | homes deliverable within five-year period (Phase 1 from April 2027); 40% affordable vs 30% policy |
Key facts
- Extension of an allocated strategic site under construction by the same developer
- Independent landscape consultant found harm acceptable because the site is enclosed to north and west
- Highway works phased; members required Kitts Hill/B1012 works before first occupation
Related decisions
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.