Village homes bid moves a step closer to reality in Mendlesham
New homes could be built in Mendlesham - Credit: Getty Images
Proposals to build more than 50 homes in a Suffolk village have moved a step closer as proposals were recommended to be approved by planning officers.
The proposal for outline planning permission for the demolition of all existing buildings and erection of 56 homes in Old Station Road in Mendlesham, will be decided by Mid Suffolk District Council’s Development Control Committee ‘B’ meeting on Wednesday. Six of the homes will be affordable.
In the background papers released ahead of the meeting, it states the parish council agreed to approve the proposal after much discussion.
Parish clerk Sharon Jones said in the comments reported back to the district council that the development is larger than the village residents wished for, and the emerging neighbourhood plan revealed a development of up to 20-30 units was preferred.
She added: “There will be an effect on local community amenities with 56 additional families joining the village so the community contribution is essential.”
There will be £154,484 paid towards social infrastructure and public open space only for the village, £146,627 to Suffolk County Council education department for Mendlesham school use, and £15,000 to the county council’s highways department towards the construction of a new footway linking the site to the primary school and community centre.
The clerk concluded on behalf of the parish council: “We therefore request that this outline application is now approved and hope that as a parish council we can be part of discussions regarding design and layout, before a full planning application is submitted.” English Heritage has recommended the development be refused, but environmental health had no objections to make.
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In the conclusion of the report, it states that because the district council does not currently have a five-year housing land supply, housing policies should not be considered as up to date.
It also stated that with consideration of the national planning policy framework that previous proposals and decisions on the site along with increased mitigation proposed for the burden of the proposed development, it was now considered to be sustainable and “of public benefit sufficiently to outweigh identified harm.”
A decision will be made at the meeting at the district council’s chamber offices on Needham Market High Street, starting at 9.30am.
