The Association’s Request for delay of Sizewell C DCO planning application
The Association has written to EDF, The Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP, Suffolk County Council Leader Matthew Hicks, SC Councillor Russ Rainger, District Councillors T-J Howarth-Culf, Jocelyn Bond, Ray Herring to urge that submission of EDF’s Development Consent Order for Sizewell C is delayed until after the Covid 19 lockdown measures are lifted. The full text of the letter is available here.
Jumbo’s Cottage update
The planning application in respect of the Rope Kiln at Jumbo’s Cottage was approved. The Association will continue to object to planning applications it considers detract from the natural beauty and tranquil environment of the Estuary.
The Association’s response to a further Jumbo’s Cottage planning application
The Association has responded to the planning application regarding the Rope Kiln building at Jumbo’s Cottage, Iken as follows:- Planning Application DC/19/1324/FUL – Jumbo’s Cottage, Iken From the Alde Ore Association (Registered Charity number 1154583) – The Alde and Ore Association exists to protect for the public benefit the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers and their banks from Shingle Street to their tidal limits together with features of public interest. It has some 2000 members. Whilst the Alde Ore Association is pleased to see that repairs to the Rope Kiln building are proposed we OBJECT to the proposed construction of the roof. Slate is not a local product. The evidence from the painting by George Rope in the Design and Access Statement does not support the use of slate. The roof of nearest neighbouring building, as well as that of the original Jumbo’s cottage, is traditional local tile. S85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act requires the planning authority to have due regard to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation. The glass lantern will harm the tranquillity of the AONB due to the likelihood of light spillage at night, especially during winter where daylight hours are short. Such spillage needs measures to minimise it. ESDC/SCDC Planning Policy DM13(b) requires the alterations to respect the character of the existing building particularly where it is of traditional design. The introduction of foreign materials, as a roof covering and structure, fails to do this. Planning Policy DM21(c) requires alterations to existing buildings to respect the style, detailing and finishes of the original building. The original building would have had a local clay tile roof covering. Keith Martin Planning Trustee
The Association’s responses to Sizewell C and Scottish Power Renewables consultations
The Association has lodged detailed responses both to the Sizewell C consultation and to Scottish Power Renewables’ plans for the onshore facilities for planned new windfarms. Both of these affect our area and our estuary which The Association exists to protect. The Sizewell C response is available in full here. The response to Scottish Power Renewables’ proposals is available here. .
Good news for Brick Dock – Developer’s planning appeal rejected
The developer’s appeal against the Suffolk Coast and District Council’s refusal of an application to build 43 houses at Brick Dock, many with views over the estuary, has been turned down. The Public Inquiry ran over six days in September with a good number of local people attending showing the strength of feeling about the proposal. The Association and many of its members individually contributed to the cost of an excellent barrister to put the case against the appeal which was supported by many residents in the estuary and the Aldeburgh Town Council. It is very encouraging that the case shows that we can work to protect the estuary from wholly inappropriate large developments. The Planning Inspector went into considerable detail on all the points made for and against the appeal. She found there were no exceptional circumstances allowing such a major development at the old Brickfields site in the AONB. For a full copy of her report click here.
Brickdock Appeal hearing completed
The appeal by the developer of the proposed new site at Brick Dock, Aldeburgh has now been heard at a Public Inquiry. The Association gave evidence at the Inquiry supporting the Aldeburgh Town Council’s opposition to the scheme. The Planning Inspector, Lesley Coffey, will be making her recommendation to the Secretary of State shortly, hopefully before Christmas.
Brick Dock development goes to appeal
BRICK DOCK: PLANNING APPEAL BY DEVELOPER FOR PERMISSION TO BUILD 43 HOUSES Reference_ APP/J3530/W/17/3172629 Brickfield Barns, Saxmundham Road, Aldeburgh, Suffolk The Alde and Ore Association is concerned to protect the estuary and its use and enjoyment for all members of the public. The proposed development at Brick Dock to build a further 43 houses would effectively urbanise that corner of the valley, creating a swathe of roofs, instead of the green country corner, and having windows overlooking the river creating both a built up effect and light pollution both at night and from glinting glass during the day. The larger housing area is also likely to affect the relative tranquillity of the Brick Dock shore affecting the much prized range of habitual migratory and residential birds, the presence of which is acknowledged by the range of natural environment protection designations. The Association has already submitted three full objections to the proposal during the course of its hearings in Suffolk Coastal District Council in 2013, 2015 and 2016. The developer has now taken his case to appeal with the Secretary of State. The Association, as others have done, submitted a further objection against the appeal in 2017. A Public Inquiry will now take place for at least five days beginning Tuesday 11 September. There are many local people, organisations and bodies representing different interests and a single counsel covering all their overlapping interests is being engaged. The Aldeburgh Society has taken on the co-ordinating role of collecting in the funds to meet the costs of some £15,000. Given the need to use money and resources most effectively and the strict planning inquiry process the Association Trustees have decided that the Association’s key concerns to protect the environment can best be met by contributing £1000 to the fund which is being collected on behalf of all by the Aldeburgh Society. Alde and Ore Association members are also invited to contribute directly if they so wish. For further details see the Aldeburgh Society’s website, www.aldeburghsociety.org.uk. Alison Andrews Chairman of the Alde and Ore Association 23 July 2018
Brick Dock
The applicants for the proposed new site at Aldeburgh Brick Dock have lodged environmental considerations with the planners. It would appear therefore that, although this development has previously been refused, the applicants are persisting. The Association will watch developments….
Snape Maltings Masterplan
Snape Maltings are currently seeking to talk to as many local residents and stakeholders as possible about their proposed plans for development of the Maltings site and associated car parking, to find out how the ideas might be viewed. There are no formal proposals as yet: Snape Maltings are sounding out local views now, well before any planning application stage, to help inform any decisions they make about working up ideas further. The plans are not yet firm enough for the Alde and Ore Association to take a position.
Jumbo’s Cottage revised application
A new variation on the plans for Jumbo’s Cottage has been submitted. Reference DC/17/0417/VOC . It now omits digging out the ground underneath the site for what would have been a car park and under-room which would have been damaging environmentally and also costly but the variation would mean that there would now be a large glass fronted building overlooking the estuary. To read the Association’s objections to the Variation please click here. Comments should be sent to the SCDC Planning Department, Case Officer Dean Baker, d.c.admin@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or Planning and Coastal Management, SCDC, Melton Hill, Woodbridge, IP12 1 AU by 2 March 2017.