Quayside Class B8 Change of Use Approved By Maldon
Change of use from sui generis boat building to Class B8 storage from Maldon District Council, bringing a large vacant industrial building on the Essex quayside back into employment use.
PLANNING APPROVALSMALDONESSEX
Andrew Ransome
6/15/20262 min read
In 2016, Maldon District Council approved a change of use from sui generis boat building and sailmaking to Class B8 storage, bringing a large vacant industrial building back into use on the Essex quayside.
The case required navigating a complex planning history and a local plan under review, and was resolved by demonstrating that the change of use retained an employment use consistent with both saved and emerging policy.
PlanningIssues in Maldon
A large industrial building on the quayside of Burnham-on-Crouch in Maldon District — historically used for boat building and sailmaking — had stood vacant since 2015.
The facility had been a significant local employer, but a long-term decline in the industry had led to the building's closure, leaving a prominent 1,410 sq m unit empty in a maritime town centre location.
A change of use application was submitted to Maldon District Council to convert the building from its existing sui generis designation to Class B8 storage and distribution.
The planning challenge was substantial.
The site had an extensive and restrictive planning history, and Maldon's local plan was undergoing review by an Inspector at the time of submission, meaning the policy context was fluid. The application was assessed against the NPPF, the saved policies of the Maldon District Local Plan 2004, and the policies of the emerging Local Development Plan.
A critical insight was that whilst the existing boat building use was technically sui generis — a designation for uses that fall outside standard use classes — the Council had historically treated the site as an employment use for policy purposes. The site would remain in employment-generating commercial use, simply with a different operational function.
The argument that the change of use would not harm neighbouring amenity, but would in fact help restore the area's character by bringing a prominent vacant building back to life, was also accepted.
Maldon District Council approved the application following positive engagement with officers.
Planning Application Advice
If you have a vacant or underused commercial building in Essex where a change of use could unlock its potential, I can advise on the planning strategy and manage the application. 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.
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Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
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