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
252450 201 Maldon Road. Retrospective for a bike shed in front of a dwelling . Object .
252577 Conversion of storage space to studio flat to rear of Short Wyre Street. Comment.
252648 11 High Street. Signage for betting shop opposite Fenwicks in Listed grade II building and in the Conservation Area. Object
252414 186b Magdalen Street . Re-roof with fibre cement tiles to listed building. Comment.
252740 2/3 Eld Lane Full face exterior roller shutters to listed shop premises . Object .
Applications decided
252408/9 54 Head Street . Approved internal alterations and removal of internal partitions to Listed building. The Wedding shop are moving from the High Street to Head Street.
252447 35 Long Wyre Street Change of use from Class E to C3 to create a dwelling in the upper levels. Refused.
251278. 43 Roman Road Approved to replace the front steps, boundary wall , balustrade and railings etc.
251899. 28 North Station Road . Approved fabric retractable canopy over pavement.
252064 1 st floor Hudsons,19 Head Street .
Approved application for proposed change of use from class E to class C3 ( 9 x1 bedrooms )
193-5 Gosbeck Road new electricity substation inside GRP enclosure and surrounded by palisade fence.
252243 NatWest , 45 High Street
Approved new signage package.