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Search the Public Notice PortalLeaders are demanding a “high bar” for environmental protection at a logistics park that could double in size and divide up habitats in Suffolk's most eco-impoverished region.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust have warned of “major adverse” impacts on the local environment of the proposed Port One Technology Park near Great Blakenham.
The proposed expansion would be 283-acres (1,146,536 sq.m) and includes storage and distribution facilities, offices, a cafe and a solar farm with substations.
It noted rare and important species of birds, invertebrates, bats, newts and hedgehogs at risk at the County Wildlife Site (CWS).
The charity also argues that Mid Suffolk is, by a significant margin, the most impoverished part of the county, due to the lack of protected areas.
Meanwhile, Mid Suffolk councillors Ross Piper and Dan Pratt recently questioned the Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Andrew Stringer, about plans.
Cllr Piper asked: “In light of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s observations regarding the application, there appears to be a significant opportunity to clarify how the mitigation hierarchy is being applied.
Councillor Stringer said that the proposal will be "scrutinised in depth".
He said: "The council’s planning policies set a high bar for acceptability” and a detailed officer report will eventually be presented to the planning committee, which will carefully weigh the development against strict national and local protection frameworks.”
Cllr Pratt noted how Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) highlighted the site as an Area of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (APIB) and a core site for ecological connectivity.
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What do the developers say?
Curzon De Vere's Managing Director, Matt Slater, noted that the County Wildlife Site (CWS) designation was 30 years old and "may no longer be appropriate to a large portion of the site"
He said that the business fully recognises the" importance of ecology, biodiversity and wildlife", and ecology data will determine the high-quality areas they will commit to and enhance.
"We are at the very early stages of the planning process, and the need for further collection of ecological data was explicitly identified in our planning submission", said Mr Slaer.
He also noted that a "productive meeting" was recently held with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, council ecology experts and the business's own ecologists, leading to a "clear steer" for targets.
Two "minor inconsistencies" in the planning information were brought to attention, and quick fixes were agreed.
He added: "Discussions were also held on our ambition to create 40 hectares of permanent Nature Reserves across two sites.
"The first of which is located within our development with a minimum area of 12.5 hectares.
"The second site is around 28 hectares and is located a short distance from our proposed development with connectivity to our existing Gipping Meadow site.
"Both sites would be managed and maintained for perpetuity and would be open for the general public to visit and enjoy."
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