Policy information sourced from the Braintree District Council Local Plan 2013-2033.
LPP 37: Replacement Dwellings in the Countryside.
Proposals to replace an existing habitable, permanent dwelling of conventional construction in the countryside, with a single new dwelling, will be acceptable if all the following criteria are met:
- a. The existing dwelling is not a building of architectural or historical value, which makes a positive contribution to the locality;
- b. The replacement dwelling and any outbuildings would not have a more harmful impact, or be more intrusive in the landscape, or countryside setting, or the setting of heritage assets and their settings, than the original dwelling, by virtue of its siting, scale, height, character and design;
- c. Any new replacement dwelling should be positioned on or close to the footprint of the existing dwelling, unless design, landscape, highway safety, residential amenity or other environmental grounds indicate that a more appropriate location on the plot can be justified;
- d. The size of the replacement dwelling should not be significantly larger than the original dwelling, irrespective of any outbuildings demolished on the site and should be appropriate to the countryside setting.
Exceptions may be made to criteria b and d above where a truly outstanding or innovative design is proposed which reflects the highest standards of architecture and energy efficiency. Applications considered under this policy would be expected to provide a detailed analysis of the visual impacts of the new dwelling on the landscape or countryside setting. The application would be required to be assessed by an independent design review panel at the cost of the applicant.
Increases in plot size to form additional garden, parking or amenity land will not be permitted.
For more information, please visit Braintree District Council’s Local Plan here.