The planning application for the development of Klondyke field for housing went before the Babergh planning committee on Wednesday the 12th of December. The application was outline for the housing and access and a full application for the woodland area to the south of Klondyke.
The Babergh Planning oficer's report on the application was very favourable and although it acknowledged the objection points raised by villagers, they were not considered significant in comparison to the benefits offered by the application. A copy of his report is available.
Sarah, Doug and Nigel from the Parish Council attended the meeting where David Baldry, Chair of the Parish Council and Robin Coates, villager, spoke against the application. Nick Ridley, Babergh Councillor for Wherstead also spoke on behalf of the village raising many concerns.
The committee discussed the application in detail, covering:
- Building on Countryside with no exceptional circumstances, outside of the settlement boundary
- Outside of Ipswich fringe
- Conflict with Babergh’s CS2 policy (Building in the countryside should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances)
- Traffic
- Access / road improvements (or lack of them).
- Swamping existing community
- Drainage
- Etc..
The Key points the committee believed were in favour of the development are:
- The council believe the National Planning Policy Framework, NPPF, is in conflict with Babergh’s CS2 and that the NPPF is dominant, which means that the clause that states 'building in the countryside is allowed without exceptional circumstances' should be given less weight.
- Klondyke close proximity to Ipswich means it is a sustainable development. Stated as the most sustainable of all applications before the committee that day
- Pigeon were prepared to accept shorter timescales to commence development (18 months and 18 months)
- The Co-Op site, park farm barns all present employment opportunities
- Traffic issues were discussed, but with the proposed improvement, this was not considered to be a reason to reject.
The application was passed and has now been allocated to the planning office for further decisions regarding the application, which means it will not go before the planning committee again. The remaining development issues being managed by the planning officer.
The vote was: four councillors against the application and nine in favour.
Robin Coates