The Leave the Layers Alone (LTLA) group say they are determined to protect the area from future development.
This week they put in an application to have the area listed by Historic England.
“We have applied to have The Layers listed as a site of historic interest with Historic England and are currently waiting for the outcome of that decision,” said Belinda Moore from the LTLA.
“The local community has been hugely supportive of Leave the Layers Alone and we already have some good evidence of the historic importance of that piece of land. We’re always looking for more and are particularly keen to hear of artefacts that may have been found there.”
It’s not clear when the outcome of the application will be heard.
In the meantime the group has also submitted a revised housing development plan to the town’s Neighbourhood Plan team.
“We’re keen to work with the Neighbourhood Plan team and wanted to highlight the fact that we’re not anti-housing development,” explained Christopher Lucas, one of the group’s founders.
“What matters to us is that the position of new housing in our town doesn’t threaten our historic landscape or put unmanageable pressure on the local infrastructure.”
The group are particularly concerned that Saxmundham may be asked to accommodate a significant number of new homes in the future, with some of these being built on the Layers
A spokesperson for Suffolk Coastal confirmed that there were no concrete proposals in place for the land currently.
“Suffolk Coastal is currently in the process of reviewing its Local Plan for the entire district and recently carried out its Issues and Options Local Plan consultation.
“The feedback and evidence we have received from local people is now being collated and then will be considered by Cabinet in June, before the suggested way forward is once more put out for consultation in July.
“This is all part of the process of ensuring we deliver a new Local Plan which is fit for purpose.
“So nothing will happen without the involvement of the local communities.”
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