PERMISSION for a large-scale development in a north Suffolk town looks set to be refused.Developer Hopkins Homes wants to build 149 homes, including 49 affordable ones, on land off Church Hill, in Saxmundham.

PERMISSION for a large-scale development in a north Suffolk town looks set to be refused.

Developer Hopkins Homes wants to build 149 homes, including 49 affordable ones, on land off Church Hill, in Saxmundham.

The site also incorporates cycleways, footpaths, and pedestrian links to the town centre.

But the development has courted controversy as those who object to it say the infrastructure in the town is already too over-stretched to absorb a development of this magnitude.

Suffolk Coastal District Council has received 29 letters of objection to the scheme with most people citing the infrastructure problems for their dislike of the plans on Church Hill, near the River Fromus.

Now, officers are recommending councillors refuse the plans when they discuss the application next week, for reasons including the impact on local roads, a lack of information on the flood risk, and the impact on conservation areas in the town.

Consultations have been carried out with a number of groups and organisations on the plans.

Brook Farm Residents' Association said social housing should be spread throughout the development and the primary school was already overstretched and having to expand.

Suffolk County Council's children and young people's services said the development would generate 46 pupils from primary school age up to sixth form age.

It falls in the catchment area of Saxmundham primary and middle schools and Leiston High School, which are all over-capacity and would be unable to take any new pupils from the development, the council said.

The department would therefore expect a full contribution to school places from the developer amounting to more than £600,000.

The district council's landscape architect said there was a lack of green space within the development and land proposed as green space was on the flood plain.

Saxmundham Town Council has supported the application but cited a number of provisos including the addition of a second access on the northern end of the development on Street Farm Road, and the addressing of inadequate facilities in the town.

Simon Bryan, development director for the Melton-based developer, said the company was required under a Section 106 agreement in planning law to make a financial contribution to education places in the town.

He added, after comprehensive talks with people and organisations in the town, they were prepared to offer financial help to the town's Brook Farm Nursery, which is looking for a permanent home, and to kickstart a bid for a one-stop shop medical health centre.

The application is due to be heard at Suffolk Coastal District Council's north area development control sub-committee on Wednesday, October 11.

karen.hindle@eadt.co.uk