WICKHAM MARKET PARISH COUNCIL

Chairman: Cllr Richard Jenkinson Parish Clerk: Jo Jones, Neutral Farm House, Mill Lane, Butley, . IP12 3PA Tel: 01394 459400, E-Mail: [email protected]/ www.onesuffolkwickhammarket.net

Planning Policy and Delivery Team District Council Melton Hill Woodbridge IP12 1AU

References:

A. Site Allocations and Area Specific Policies Local Plan Document, Issues and Options Consultation document 15 Dec 14 - 27 Feb 15 B. Parish Council response dated 12 Jan 15

24 February 2015 Dear Sir

SITE ALLOCATIONS AND AREA SPECIFIC POLICIES LOCAL PLAN DOCUMENT

A Public Meeting was held on 12 Feb 2015 to brief the residents of Wickham Market on the Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) Local Plan and it was attended by 107 people. The brief was given by the Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr R Jenkinson, and he gave an overview of the Local Plan documents. In particular he covered how Wickham Market may be affected in future.

It was explained that, despite the fact that Wickham Market had not been allocated any houses to be built by 2027, it was likely that the village would have to accept some development before that date.

The draft Local Plan shows that there are three sites in Wickham Market that are suitable for development, these are sites 776l, 776i and 617. Site 617 at 43 Road is currently being developed. Site 776l is the Glebe Allotments and Site 776i is the field to the east of the Glebe Allotments and to the west of Spring Lane.

The contents of the letter sent by Wickham Market Parish Council to SCDC on 12 Jan 15, Reference B, regarding the “Site Allocations and Area Specific Policies Local Plan Document” were briefed and there was unanimous agreement with the sentiment of the letter. However, it was felt that an additional letter should be sent to SCDC to clarify certain points and reinforce the initial comments.

There was unanimous agreement that site 776l should not be developed and should be classed as “Unsuitable for Development” in the SHLAA. The reasons given in Reference B are extant. In addition it should be noted that the Local Plan highlighted that Wickham Market was deficient in green infrastructure and building on the allotments would only make the situation much worse. There was such strong feeling that the Glebe Allotments should not be built on that it was felt that this site should become part of the “Area to be Protected from Development” within the village. This would make site 776i untenable as the only suitable access is through site 776l. Three alternative sites for development were discussed. Of the sites discussed 66% of those attending felt that, if Wickham Market had to accept further development in the near future, then it should be on the 1.38Ha site 421 as this was the only site with suitable access. It was noted that this was in a Special Landscape Area (SLA), however 776l and 776i are also in SLAs.

The other two sites had some potential, but there were many factors to be considered and it was felt that these factors should be researched further in order to come up with the best solution. This further research would be best completed during the writing of a Wickham Market Neighbourhood Plan.

The area to the north of the Riverside Industrial estate was considered to be the best place to allocate any land required for employment/light industrial use within the Wickham Market CP. However, there was general agreement that the vacant business premises in and Lower should be used in advance of any site in Wickham Market. There was thought to be merit in widening the area considered for the Wickham Market Neighbourhood Plan to include Lower Hacheston and Pettistree. No agreement has been sought, as yet, from these neighbouring parishes.

In summary Wickham Market Parish Council, with the full support of many residents, request that SCDC:

a. Change the designation of sites 776l and 776i to “Unsuitable for Development” b. Additionally protect the site 776l by making it part of the “Area to be Protected from Development” c. Request that Wickham Market be allowed the time to develop a Neighbourhood Plan which should earmark some sites for development having resolved those issues that currently make these sites unacceptable. d. Accept the fact that if a site has to be found before the Neighbourhood Plan work is complete then it should be site 421.

We understand that, even though the Heath development appears to have been given the green light to proceed, the requirement for houses is likely to rise from 7,900 to11,000. Consequently Wickham Market may need to accept some housing development before 2027. It would be vastly preferable if this development was done in the preferred location of the Wickham Market residents.

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

Richard Jenkinson Chairman Wickham Market Parish Council