Braintree: Driving school appeals over new office plans (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Braintree: Driving school appeals over new office plans

2:10pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in Braintree and Witham News

A driving school will appeal to the Secretary of State in a bid to build a new office complex.

Benson School of Motoring, wants to build a permanent office building, storage building and dwelling in Long Green, Cressing.

The driving school already occupies the site, known as The Stables, but its current office are temporary portable buildings.

A proposed replacement office would be one and a half storeys high and would accomodate driving school and motorcycle training staff.

Parish councillors objected to the plans, stating a new dwelling would not suit the area, and the design of the office “more closely resembles a house than an office”.

Planning chiefs rejected the proposals in April, citing noise pollution and concerns about damaging the visual landscape.

But Benson has now lodged an appeal against the decision with the Planning Inspectorate.

Robert Pomery, agent for the application, said: “The applicant takes the view that the uses proposed for this site are entirely appropriate in this location.

“Noise levels in the area are not particularly excessive and the applicant will demonstrate same with the submission of a noise assessment.”

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