SPS news – June 2024 campaign bulletin

Persimmon housing development concerns

SPS responded to concerns raised by residents about proposals for a phase two of a housing development in Eye. An adopted Masterplan calls for a landscape led scheme, however Persimmon’s proposals exclude part of the site for a later phase, resulting in a layout with increased density and less open space.

SPS has submitted an objection to the scheme, supporting the views of the local community. We call for amendments so that the scheme more closely reflects that promised by the development brief.

Intensive poultry rearing in Mid Suffolk

SPS has responded to a consultation on a Supplementary Planning Document on intensive poultry rearing in Mid Suffolk. We welcome the increased policy provision to safeguard the amenity of communities affected by such development, but we highlighted that the document failed to make any reference to the importance of safeguarding the historic environment, and in particular the setting of heritage assets that may be affected by such industrial uses.

Intensive poultry rearing can have significant impacts ranging from smell, noise, HGV movements and visual impacts, which can impact the special interest of listed buildings. We hope that the concerns raised will be reflected in the final document.

Planning application numbers down

Planning application submissions and determinations have plunged to a record low as councils in England decided 332,930 planning applications in the year ending March 2024, an 11.7 per cent fall from last year and the lowest recorded figure in the past decade. Permissions were granted for 236,000 new houses – the lowest since 2013/14 and a 13 per cent decrease from last year.  SPS has noticed that this national trend extends across Suffolk through a drop off in planning applications submitted. The current economic climate and political uncertainty will be playing their part and we wait to see how the general election result will impact the planning system and the new development coming forward.

Cottage in West Row to be demolished

SPS was disappointed to learn that West Suffolk raised no objection to the demolition a 19^th century property in West Row. We had submitted comments on the application for demolition (Notification under Part 11 of Sch 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015) to object to the proposed total loss of 123 Friday Street. 

It is one of few remaining historic buildings situated in Friday Street, which is defined in the Suffolk Historic Environment Record as a part of the historic settlement core of West Row.    We called for a heritage assessment to assess the significance of the building and argued that it may meet the criteria for a non-designated heritage asset. Its loss would therefore be contrary to national and local policy.  However, the planning team did not take our concerns any further and the building can now be demolished.

The SPS AGM was held at our garden party in the beautiful garden at Little Hall in Lavenham on a rare dry evening earlier this month.

As part of the business of the evening, we welcomed new trustee, William Dunn and said goodbye to Nicholas Pearson OBE and Rachel Bunn who stepped down after 12 and 2 years service on the board respectively. The Chair and President thanked staff and volunteers for all the charity’s achievements over the last 12 months.

Courtyard, Heveningham Hall, IP19 0PN

Thursday 18 July. 6 pm – 8 pm. £30 per person (£20 for SPS Members)

Our speaker is renowned architectural historian, Jeremy Musson – a regular contributor to Country Life and other journals, as well as a former National Trust curator. He is author and co-editor of numerous books on historic houses and wrote and presented the BBC TV series A Curious House Guest. 

Champagne and canapes accompanied by Fishers Gin from Aldeburgh.

Little Wenham, CO7 6QA

Thursday 5 September. 11 am – 1 pm. £15 per person – Members only event.

A rare opportunity to visit the very special manor house and church complex hidden deep in rural south Suffolk at Little Wenham.

The visit will be led by the renowned historian and archaeologist Edward Martin.

As part of the national Volunteering Week, our June column in the EADT focussed on volunteering and we gave a shout out to the very special SPS volunteers that make such a meaningful contribution to the work of the Society.

If you, or someone you know, would like to find out more about volunteering with the SPS, do please get in touch.