OUR CAMPAIGNS
Our on going work and updates on current campaigns are set out below.
EXTENSION TO THE AONB
Just to recap the extension covers:
a. The south bank of the River Stour running from Manningtree to Parkeston Quay.
b. The entirety of the River Stour apart from the area in front of Parkeston Quay.
c. The Dodnash Valley d. Holbrook Park and Cutlers Wood
d. Holbrook Park and Cutlers Wood
The Society is delighted to announce that the Secretary of State has approved the extension to the AONB.
Visit the below link for the full details
BABERGH AND MID SUFFOLK LOCAL PLAN
This latest version of the Joint Local Plan (JLP) is unlikely to be the last since the consultation document describes it as ‘Preferred Options’ but it does give details of Babergh’s housing requirement to 2036 and how this requirement might be spread. Babergh’s housing needs are set out at pages 24 and 25 of the document.
Overall, the Council’s need is for 7,560 houses, which is derived from the Government’ national housing policy. This equates to some 420 houses per annum, on average, throughout the period 2018 to 2036. Of this total, permission has been already granted for 4,036 dwellings, leaving a residual need for 3,524 houses for which planning permission has yet to be sought. Babergh’s strategic thoughts as to where new housing development should take place are set out in the section on Spatial Distribution starting at page 37. There are maps for all villages on the Shotley Peninsula, starting at page 125, so that you can see how your village might be affected, although, at this stage, housing allocations have only been given to those villages that have or are preparing a Neighbourhood Plan.
The Plan seeks to address a matter that has been a concern of members. There have been several examples, such as at Freston, where cottages or bungalows or smaller properties outside the settlement boundaries have been demolished and rebuilt at much greater scale, thereby materially changing the character of the locality. The Plan now seeks to curtail such matters and to ensure that any new building is limited to the size of the building that has been demolished and that it is in keeping with its surroundings.
We have commented on the draft Local Plan and this can be downloaded below.
HERITAGE ASSETS REGISTER
In our review of the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Preferred Options Consultation Document July 2019 (flowing from the requirements of statute and national planning policy), we note that there is an increasing focus on the protection of Heritage Assets within the Council’s area.
Heritage Assets include listed buildings, conservation areas, registered parks and gardens and scheduled ancient monuments. These assets and their settings are key elements of the broader landscape we are striving to protect in our area. The Committee considers that the Society now needs to focus on the heritage assets within our area and to assemble a Heritage Assets Register which could be used to identifyi areas that we could submit to Babergh DC for consideration as Conservation Areas.
Conservation Areas can be designated by the local planning authority and have considerable, indeed statutory, status. Their purpose would be seek to maintain the character, appearance and ambience of special areas on the Peninsula which are rich in heritage assets and thereby help achieve our broader aim of preserving and enhancing the landscape of the AONB and Additional Project Area.
We will be contacting members for suggestions on what should be included.
