The Planning Committee of Tendring Council met on Thursday, 3 September 2026, to discuss and decide on three planning applications. The committee granted permission for temporary emergency accommodation at 1 Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, and for a Football Foundation PlayZone at Cliff Park, Harwich. Outline permission was also granted for up to 120 dwellings on land north of Weeley Road, Great Bentley.

1 Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea

The committee granted planning permission for the change of use of a three-storey building at 1 Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 3PP to temporary emergency accommodation, a use classified as sui generis. This decision followed a previous deferral to allow for a site visit and to gather further information on the proposed management of the accommodation.

Concerns were raised by committee members regarding the distinction between this proposal and a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), particularly given the 19 units intended for unrelated individuals. Officers clarified that the proposal consists of self-contained units, each with its own kitchenette and shower facilities, and therefore does not meet the planning definition of an HMO, which typically involves shared facilities. Policy LP11 of the Tendring District Local Plan 2013-2033 and Beyond, which aims to prevent an overconcentration of HMOs, was discussed. Officers confirmed that if this proposal were classified as an HMO, it would likely be prevented by Policy LP11 due to the existing number of HMOs within a 100m radius. However, they stressed that the current application is not an HMO in planning terms.

Further discussions focused on fire safety and building regulations. Officers explained that these aspects fall under separate regulatory regimes and are not planning considerations. However, they agreed to include informative notes to the applicant highlighting the need for safe fire escape routes and internal staircase handrails.

A key point of debate was the duration of the temporary emergency accommodation. While the Council's housing team suggested a 12-month limit, officers advised caution regarding the reasonableness of such a timeframe. Ultimately, the committee resolved to add a condition restricting individual occupants to a continuous period of 14 months, with a requirement to remain away for three months after their last occupation. A register of occupation is to be maintained by the site operator and made available for inspection. The committee also agreed that informative notes would be sent to the applicant, emphasizing the need for safe fire escape routes and internal staircase handrails.

Land North of Weeley Road, Great Bentley

Outline planning permission was unanimously granted for up to 120 dwellings on land to the north of Weeley Road, Great Bentley, CO7 8PE. This application, which only considered access at this stage, was made possible due to the Council's lack of a five-year housing land supply, triggering the presumption in favour of sustainable development. The site has been identified as a potential housing allocation in the emerging Local Plan.

Technical aspects, including highways, archaeology, drainage, ecology, landscaping, and amenity, were deemed acceptable or mitigable through conditions and a Section 106 agreement. The Environment Agency withdrew its objection after the proposed access was relocated outside of Flood Zones 2/3. Concerns about the need for an additional bus stop and a contribution to bus services were addressed by officers, who stated that the suggested bus stop location was too far from the application site and that the justification for financial contributions towards passenger transport improvements was not sufficiently demonstrated.

Councillor James White suggested amending or removing a Highways Informative Note to reflect recent climate action priorities by Essex County Council, which the Head of Planning and Building Control agreed to consider. The committee also discussed the possibility of an alternative exit onto a narrower adjacent road, but officers confirmed they were assessing only the proposed access. The need for a 30mph zone extension was noted as a condition to be dealt with under a Section 278 process, with an informative note to encourage this. The term enabling aspect was clarified by officers, explaining that while housing development enables the delivery of cricket club facilities, the scheme itself is not an enabling scheme in the traditional planning sense. The permission is subject to the completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and relevant conditions.

Cliff Park, High Street, Harwich

Planning permission was granted for the construction of a floodlit Football Foundation PlayZone within Cliff Park, High Street, Harwich, CO12 3AT. The development includes a floodlit multi-use games area, fencing, seating, and associated infrastructure, which is intended to enhance existing recreational facilities and increase opportunities for sport and physical activity.

Officers reported that while the development would cause a low level of harm to the significance of the Lower Dovercourt Conservation Area and nearby heritage assets, this harm was outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme. Natural England confirmed that the proposed development would not have significant adverse impacts on protected nature conservation sites or landscapes. The permission is subject to conditions, archaeological mitigation, and no objections being received from Natural England and Place Services Ecology. An update sheet circulated to members prior to the meeting included the correct site plan and confirmed Natural England's response. No members of the public registered to speak on this application.