Response of Earl Stonham Parish Council

Babergh & Mid Joint Local Plan Consultation Document (issued in July 2019)

Local Plan - September 2019

Residential Development

The Parish Council is pleased to see that has recently secured a five-year land supply, which should help to bring a degree of control to future development within the district rather than being vulnerable to speculative and ad hoc proposals for development. Whilst the Parish Council recognises that there is a demand for new and mixed housing provision, it believes that such provision is possible but it is extremely important that any proposals should not reduce the residential amenity of local residents, they should be appropriate to the local infrastructure (e.g. the road network) and they should be mindful of the availability of local amenities (e.g. dental and GP services).

Earl Stonham is divided into three areas, Forward Green which is defined as a “hinterland village”, Middlewood Green, which has been re-categorised from “countryside” to a “hamlet” as too has the third area, Angel Hill. Forward Green now has included within its boundary, Wicks Lane and houses adjacent to “Perfect Perennials”. More development within these areas give the Parish Council great concern as it seems to be that the existing policy is being somewhat overlooked and an unnecessary increase in development being proposed.

The Parish Council are concerned that it has not been made clear the difference between “hamlets" (which have a settlement boundary) and "clusters” which do not. The Joint Local Plan states:

"Settlements that do not have ten or more well related dwellings have not been identified in the settlement hierarchy".

However, Policy LP01 states that:

"small clusters of dwellings are defined as a nucleus of at least 10 dwellings adjacent to or fronting an existing adopted highway with no settlement boundary".

These statements are contrary to each other. It has been brought to the attention of the Parish Council that this was an error and that “clusters” should be defined as less than 10 dwellings. A significant point as it could mean that other parts of Middlewood Green, Broad Green and possibly Fen Lane be brought within the definition of a “cluster”. Policy LP01 - development in "clusters", would allow "infilling by one dwelling or a pair of semi-detached dwellings within a continuous built up frontage". Therefore, the definition of "clusters" needs to be clarified.

Health Facilities

Earl Stonham residents currently use the surgeries at , and Mendlesham. The District Council should ensure as a priority, that such local amenities have capacity to include any new development.

The Local Plan states that

“the preferred approach to addressing provision is to maximise the use of existing surgeries. This can be through extending the surgery or through their reconfiguration, refurbishment and reequipping”

Stowupland Settlement Map: "there may be a requirement for increased healthcare capacity."

Needham Market Settlement Map: "The cumulative growth of existing commitments and growth planned through the Joint Local Plan, may require an expansion to current healthcare facilities"

With proposed development of approximately 110 properties in neighbouring Creeting St Mary not to mention the huge amount of housing being built in neighbouring Stowupland and Needham Market, the Parish Council feel that the additional infrastructure is vital to any proposed future development, with it not being a case of “may” but must.

The requirement for increased capacity in healthcare to serve Stowupland is not clear as there is no mention of the allocations in Stowupland for a site for a new medical centre.

It is also vital that where further healthcare provisions are provided, or current surgeries extended, the appropriate space for car parking must be included as part of the expansion. With the growing population and cars being the preferred mode of transport, parking is an important part of any growth or development.

Supported and Special Needs Housing

The Parish Council feel it is also vital that Care Homes should be an important part of the housing planned and high up on the priority list. It is a well discussed fact that people are living longer and a wider provision should be made for an ageing population. The Parish Council therefore objects to Policy LP06 on the basis that it is too weak being just an enabling policy. A more pro-active policy is required to ensure that provision is made to meet the need that the District Council has identified.