In
1988 developers applied
for planning permission to erect some 40 properties on this land.
Objections were made by the residents and the parish council.
Babergh District Council
refused this application and it subsequently went to appeal.
The HM Planning Inspector
again refused this application. One of his main points was:-
" .....the
site lies within the Bures conservation area adjacent to its eastern
edge and being densely populated with fruit trees it represents
in my view an important visual feature and one which fulfills
a worthwhile transitional function between the neighbouring housing
and the open countryside"
After this, harmony was restored
and the orchard once again flourished with its magnificent display
of pink apple blossom, that could be seen from miles around.
Once again in 2004,
this plot of land was once again been put forward as a possible
site for housing development.
This time however, Babergh District Council have elected to place
this area in their "Local Plan" suitable for housing.
Although this was tentatively
supported by the local Parish Council, very few residents agreed
with this change of use, all were concerned by the restricted
access, density of the housing and school overcrowding.
Residents were once
again asked by Babergh for their comments, prior to the Local
Plan Public enquiry.
When the Inspectors report and comments were quoted back to them
from 1988/9, the reply given by the District Council was that
these were now "invalid objections"
The conclusion reached by Babergh was that:- "The Inspector
is asked to make no changes in the light of all of these objections"
The District Council readily agreed with the Planning Inspector
in 1988, but now disagree with him when they are clambering for
land.
During September/October
2004, there was the Public Enquiry where the Government Inspector
decided in favour of the District Council.
It has now been included in the Local Plan as land suitable
for housing development.
ISSUE
2
Extract from Suffolk Free Press
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Aerial view of
the orchard dated 2000 |
During 2004 the orchard was
once again put forward, as a possible site for housing development.
This site was now to be included by Babergh in their Local Plan
as an area suitable for development.
Residents and the
Parish Council were once again in 2004 asked by Babergh for their
comments.
When the residents quoted the 1988 Inspectors report, the reply
given by the District Council was that this was now an "invalid
objection" and they would be ignored.
The District Council readily agreed with the Planning Inspector
in 1988 to protect this land, but now disagree with him when they
are clambering for houses to build.
A public enquiry is to be held by a Government Inspector who will
once decide if this land is once again suitable for development.
Extract from EADT/Suffolk
Free Press
DEVELOPMENT
APRIL 2005 - PUBLIC ENQUIRY
Various members of the public at
Bures lodged objections together with Bures St Mary Parish Council
and Suffolk Wildlife Trust on the development.
Objections were categorised
as:-
(a) Highway Issues
(b) Site be used as Public Open space
(c) Impact on Village School
(d) Ecological Impact
(e) Site previously rejected by HM Inspector
(f) Density of Development
(g) Sustainability Appraisal
(h) Demolition of Garages in Claypits Avenue for access.
The proposal put forward
by Babergh was that:- "The Inspector is asked to make
no changes in the light of all of these objections"
This plot of land was subsequently added to the Babergh
Local Plan as a site suitable for development.
Babergh District Council
letter BAB/PB/BUR/05
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Photos by J. Doddington
taken from an adjacent field
Orchard cleared September 2004
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