SPS news – November 2024 campaign bulletin

Brockley Wood quarry application to be redetermined

Consent for a quarry and concrete batching plant was quashed by the High Court in August. The successful Judicial Review claimed that the Defendant had erred in failing to consider the Local Plan policy relating to AONB (National Landscape) Project Areas which required the decision maker to “protect and enhance valued landscapes”. The applicant has now submitted a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment as part of an application to redetermine the consent. SPS has responded and, notwithstanding some amendments to the scheme, we continue to call for the relocation of the processing plant away from the most sensitive southern portion of the site and further to the west, adjacent to the A12.

Over 100 objections to the scheme have been received, including the Bentley Parish Council, who led the Judicial Review earlier this year. Suffolk County Council have announced that the application will not go back to the planning committee until all the objections have been fully considered. SPS will monitor this application carefully as it has significant policy implications for the management of the National Landscapes and their Project Areas.

Great Finborough School application for dormitory building

SPS has objected to an application to erect a dormitory block to the west of the Finborough Hall, a grade II country house currently in use as a school, due to harm to the wider setting of grade II listed St Andrews Church and harm to the former parkland (now golf course) associated with Finborough Hall. We are concerned that the proposed accommodation block on the valley side, with a large footprint, expansive roofscape and numerous windows has the potential to appear prominent and detract from the landscape setting of the church. Furthermore, the proposed mitigation of woodland planting has the potential to harm the open aspect and long views of the church and its tower.

St Andrew’s Church, an 1870s rebuild of the medieval church, is one of three churches by Richard Phipson, the others being Woolpit and St Mary Le Tower in Ipswich. It is located on the valley slope set against a backdrop of woodland, and as an “eyecatcher” commands views from Buxhall Church, Brettenham Road and local footpaths. The striking spire, with its banded stonework is one of the most remarkable in the county, and sits in splendid isolation against the valley side.

Intensive poultry units application

Plans have been submitted for a chicken rearing facility in Kenton. This will house approximately 40,000 poultry within 2 large sheds and in the surrounding field. There will be a 56-day rearing process on the site which will begin with the chicks being delivered to the unit and then raised within the sheds for the first few weeks with free range access to the outside for the remainder of the 56 days. The sheds will then be washed down before the next batch is brought in. A number of objections have been made surrounding the potential noise, odour and traffic movements impacting on residences in Kenton.

SPS has raised concerns over the heritage impact of the proposals and has urged that these are given full weight in the consideration of the application. The site is close to Kenton Hall, a grade II listed building currently in use as an events venue, and although not visible from the Hall, any impacts from the change of use of the site need to be considered. We also highlighted the heritage impact on an historic footpath which links the Hall with the parish church to the north and passes directly adjacent to the site.

St Bartholomew’s Priory farmhouse

SPS has responded to an application for listed building consent for internal alterations to grade II listed St Bartholomew’s Priory farmhouse in Sudbury. This application is linked to an application for 9 dwellings in the grounds of the grade II listed farmhouse and the grade II* Priory. Both buildings are at risk and in urgent need of repair and re-use.

While very supportive of finding a solution, SPS had already expressed concern about the enabling development which would have stripped any remaining setting from the listed farmhouse, further undermining its future.

The latest application for internal works to the farmhouse involves a number of alterations that have the potential to further damage the character and appearance of the interior, including drylining throughout, lifting and levelling floors and changing the historic floorplan. We have urged that a more conservative approach is taken to respect the surviving historic fabric and make more sensitive interventions that protect surviving character.

Demolition of church tower refused

SPS had commented on the application to demolish the tower of the United Reformed Church in Stowmarket which was built to replace the Congregational Chapel, destroyed in 1941 during WW2. It is unlisted but is prominently located within the High Street at the centre of the Conservation Area.

We argued that the loss of the tower would harm the character and appearance to the conservation area and are delighted that the application to remove the tower has been resisted.

Polstead Village Hall – rooftop solar panels receive approval

Polstead Village Hall is prominently positioned within the Polstead Conservation Area and is within the Dedham Vale National Landscape (AONB). SPS supported the proposal to generate renewal energy for use by the village hall and community shop but urged that the option of installing the solar panels on rear facing elevations was explored.

The planning officer, however, ruled that the public benefits of the renewable energy scheme outweighed the low level of heritage harm.

Redevelopment plans within the Broads National Park withdrawn

SPS objected to a planning application for 3 dwellings on a prominent site in the Riverside area of the Beccles Conservation Area. The plans involve the demolition of Wherry Cottage, a small vernacular red brick cottage with oak cladding which makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Riverside, and speaks of a time when the river was central to people’s lives and livelihoods.

We argued that the scale and design of the proposals would impact on key views across site and into the open countryside and the River Waveney beyond. We are pleased to report that the application has been withdrawn.

Section 85 of the Countryside and Right of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act) was amended in December 2023 to require ‘relevant authorities’, in exercising or performing any function that affect AONBs (now known as National Landscapes) in England, to “seek to further the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

This is a strengthening of the previous ‘duty of regard’ and seeks positive outcomes for the natural beauty of our National Landscapes. It is a statutory duty meaning that it is something all relevant authorities must do; it is not discretionary. A briefing note has recently been produced which provides guidance on meeting the strengthened duty in policy making, decision-making or actions that affect National Landscapes/Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in England.  The guidance is available here.

SPS recent retrofit workshop

SPS in the media