Permission in Principle Approved by Tendring for a Dwelling Outside of the Settlement Boundary
Permission in Principle from Tendring District Council for a single dwelling on brownfield industrial land at Great Bentley, outside the settlement boundary, exploiting a policy vacuum created by the Council's delayed emerging local plan.
PLANNING APPROVALSTENDRINGESSEXPERMISSION IN PRINCIPLE
Andrew Ransome
7/2/20262 min read
In 2019, Tendring District Council approved a Permission in Principle application for a single dwelling on brownfield land at Great Bentley, Essex — a site outside the settlement boundary used for industrial storage and as a workshop.
The case exploited a planning policy vacuum created by the delayed adoption of the emerging Tendring Local Plan, and was strengthened by the site's proposed inclusion within the new settlement boundary in that emerging plan.
Permission in Principle for a Dwelling in Tendring
Permission in Principle was secured from Tendring District Council for a single residential dwelling on land at Great Bentley, Essex.
The site was located outside the settlement boundary, where local policy ordinarily creates a general presumption against development, and was in current use for industrial storage and as a workshop.
On first assessment, the site presented clear policy obstacles — but a careful analysis of the policy context revealed a genuine strategic opportunity.
Tendring District Council was at an advanced stage of producing its new Local Plan 2013–2033, which had been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination. However, the examination process had stalled.
Critically, the site at Great Bentley was proposed to be included within the village settlement boundary in the emerging plan — a material consideration carrying significant weight given the advanced stage of plan preparation.
The Council was also unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, meaning policies restricting development outside settlement boundaries carried reduced weight.
These two factors — the housing supply shortfall and the emerging plan's proposed allocation of the site within the settlement boundary — combined to create a compelling case for Permission in Principle.
Tendring District Council accepted the arguments and approved the Permission in Principle, enabling the next stage of Technical Details Consent to proceed with the principle of development confirmed.
Planning Application Advice
If your site is outside a settlement boundary, a Permission in Principle application can be an efficient way to establish the principle of development quickly. Contact me 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.
Planning Successes in Tendring
Planning Application Information
Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
© 2026. All rights reserved.