Judicial review hinders £45m plan

COMPANY bosses behind plans to create 800 jobs as part of a £45 million business overhaul last night spoke of their disappointment after a High Court bid to block the expansion gathered pace.

Residents fighting plans to expand one of Sudbury's major employers, Prolog, have received permission to pursue a judicial review of the application.

Although it is believed that only a handful of residents have objected, it has provided Prolog with a major stumbling block in its bid to build three industrial units on Churchfield Road.

But bosses at the distribution and packaging firm have told the EADT they remain hopeful that the legal challenge against Babergh District Council, which approved the expansion plans, would eventually be thrown out.

Describing their desire to keep Sudbury at the “epicentre of operations”, director Peter Tyrer said: “When you think we want to create 800 jobs, any hold up is frustrating.

“Obviously we are disappointed that this judicial review wasn't thrown out in the first instance. But we remain very committed to Sudbury and we are desperate to expand here. We will soldier on, we remain hopeful this will be resolved and we are doing all we can to support Babergh in this.”

The firm's bid to build three industrial units on Churchfield Road on the same site proposed for Sudbury's new health campus was given the green light by councillors earlier this year. But protesters described the plans as a “gross redevelopment”.

In representations made to Babergh before the decision in April, residents, who have not been named, said the site would become overdeveloped while there were also concerns about traffic and the height of the buildings.

But a report to the council's development committee said: “Other than Chilton Hall, there are no residential properties significantly affected. Chilton Hall is located some distance away and is unlikely to be significantly affected by the proposals.”