Our Planning Work
The Society encourages the best modern architecture and is prepared to comment on planning matters at every level. We respond to consultations on planning issues, from specific sites to the more general Local Plan. We also support the conservation of our older buildings of merit – buildings that are of historical importance, add to a street scene, are architecturally pleasing or simply of sentimental value within the community. We often raise our concerns about the condition of such buildings.
A recent example of where the Society’s intervention yielded a positive result is shown here.
Bow window in Colchester High Street
The Bow window restored!
Planning Applications large and small
The society was actively involved in opposing the proposed Alumno Development alongside Firstsite and worked with Colchester Borough Council and OMCI (Greyfriars) in opposing this at the planning enquiry.This is just one of many applications that the society comments on or objects to on an ongoing basis.
A more recent example was the Society’s opposition to the proposal by Lion Walk Shopping Centre to paint a mural on vestry wall of Holy Trinity Church. The Society actively opposed this application for Historic Building Consent and helped to raise considerable opposition from ward councillors, historians, members of the society and other concerned residents of the town. The application was called in by Castle Ward Councillor Mark Goacher and went to a full Planning Department hearing, at which John Burton (president of the Society) spoke on our behalf. Significantly the application was also opposed by the Conservation Officer and the Historic England Inspector in reports which largely mirrored the points in the Society’s objection (see link below). With such a weight of opposition it was no surprise that the application was refused.
Colchester Civic Society comments on or objects to planning applications both large and small.
Listed here are the results of the most recent applications to have been considered by the Colchester Planning Department, for which we offered comments or objections. This is followed by new applications which we commented on or objected to which have yet to be considered by Planning.
Planning Applications commented on or opposed
251715 St Botolph’s Quarter scheme. Opposed
252019 27 Salisbury Avenue Comment re replacement UPVC windows in Conservation Area
252073 5 Creffield Road replacement windows in UPVC . Locally listed in Conservation Area Opposed.
252042 Holy Trinity Church interior building works to Grade II structure . Opposed
252116 29 North Hill . Signage in Grade II structure in group of buildings . Observation
Complaint to Enforcement re 2 Creffield Road re non compliance with 241688 to replace UPVC windows with timber .
152188 11-13 Head Street (Nando’s) placing of large olive tree in pot on the public pavement . Opposed .
252175 8 Crouch Street . Comment on conversion to flats to rear and above bar area. Observation comment re bike storage and lack of window ventilation to ground floor.
252243. 25 High Street , Nat West Bank . New signage package for Locally listed building in Conservation Area . Comment re purple dot window vinyl and overwhelming purple colour palette.
Applications decided
250607 10 Trinity Street change of use from cafe to dwelling . Approved.
251826 11 High Street signage for betting shop . Refused . Conversion of cafe to betting shop approved . Opposite Fenwicks .
251714 45 St Botolph’s Street . Signage design approved . (Corner of Priory Street)
251646 59 North Hill . Conversion of offices to 13 bed HMO . Refused .