Success for Burnham Waters Retirement Community

Lichfields is delighted that permission has been secured for Phase 2 of Burnham Waters, a vibrant retirement community for the over-55s, just outside Burnham-on-Crouch, following an appeal. Phase 1 comprises a care home, retirement bungalows and flats, key worker accommodation, shops, a GP and leisure/community facilities for the use of residents and the wider community and was granted in 2019. The Phase 2 scheme will provide additional retirement homes (all built to M4(3) standards), including affordable housing, as well as additional community facilities, which will create a vibrant and sustainable community within a landscape-led scheme.

Following an officer recommendation to approve, elected Members chose to refuse the application. Acting on behalf of the applicant - Think Green Land Ltd - Lichfields managed the appeal process and provided expert evidence during the four day inquiry.

In a very positive decision letter, the Inspector found that the benefits were “many and substantial”, and noted that the only identified harm - related to landscape - was “almost the bare minimum” that could be expected from greenfield development. The appeal saw a full award of costs for the appellant, with the Inspector noting that “the proposal should not have been refused in the first place, and should not have then been actively defended at appeal”.