4 Houses Approved Planning Outside of Settlement Boundary in Braintee, Essex
Planning permission approval from Braintree District Council for four homes outside the settlement boundary in Great Notley, Essex, building on a previous appeal Inspector's conclusions.
PLANNING APPROVALSBRAINTREEESSEX
Andrew Ransome
6/20/20262 min read
In 2017, Braintree District Council's Planning Committee approved four new homes — including two self-build plots — on land outside the settlement boundary in Great Notley, Essex.
Outside the Settlement Boundary in Braintree
In 2017, planning committee approval was secured from Braintree District Council for four dwellings, including two self-build homes, on a 0.4-hectare greenfield site outside the settlement boundary in Great Notley, Essex.
The site was further complicated by its proximity to a Grade II and Grade II* listed building.
A long-standing involvement with the site had included a previous scheme for eight dwellings: whilst the principle of development had been established at that stage, the subsequent appeal was dismissed on grounds of density and local character.
The previous Inspector's conclusions were a valuable foundation for the revised application. The Inspector had explicitly accepted that the site was not isolated, that it had strong public transport connections and good access to local amenities, that it caused no material harm to the nearby listed buildings, and that the Council could not demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.
The revised scheme was demonstrably more spacious.
A further planning argument was identified: Braintree District Council had no policies or local initiatives to support or enable the delivery of self-build or custom-build housing — contrary to NPPF guidance and ongoing government policy encouraging self-build. Incorporating two self-build plots added material weight to the application and strengthened the case for approval.
The application was approved at Planning Committee.
Planning Application Advice
If you have land outside a settlement boundary that may have development potential, or if you are interested in self-build or custom-build housing schemes, I can advise on the prospects and strategy. Get in touch to discuss your site.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
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Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
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