A new business park off the A14 has been given the go-ahead amid "little thought" to increase congestion and traffic issues in the area.
Interchange 55 is set to create 500 jobs through the new industrial park off the A14 at Sproughton and hopes to be completed in 2024.
The decision was approved by seven votes to four at Babergh District Council, with the four objectors all concerned about traffic.
Highways officers accepted the proposal would cause a “significant” impact on the Scrivener Drive roundabout, but believed this would not be “severe” and therefore was not grounds to object.
A representative from Building Partnerships Ltd, joint applicants with Poplar Holdings Ltd, said: “I think everybody is aware there’s a shortage of employment sites across the eastern region.
“We have a deadline of 2025 for completion, but we intend to finish this development in 2024.”
They said the site while the site has not been advertised, it has interest from more potential occupiers than we could fit on the land available.
During the meeting calls to defer the decision for more information about the impact on traffic was lost.
In response to the decision to approve, Cllr Leigh Jamieson, ward member for South East Cosford, said: “I was disappointed to see that a number of members, who probably rarely use the Copdock junction, approved the application with little thought to the increased congestion it is going to cause in the area.
“The Copdock interchange and Scrivener Drive roundabouts are already at a standstill many times a day. With the Wolsey Grange development adding to this, it is only going to get worse.
“To now approve the movement of potentially hundreds of HGVs a day via the park and ride roundabout is madness.
“Unfortunately, members – with no thought whatsoever for the long-suffering residents of Pinewood – were not even prepared to defer this application to review the options."
It was voiced during the meeting that access points to the site including via London Road, the roundabouts on Scrivener Drive, and the retail park were not appropriate.
Cllr David Busby, who represents Copdock and Washbrook, asked the council to speak to developer Taylor Wimpey about access to its new 750 home development.
He said: “I’m not convinced this is the right solution for this site.
“I think we all want to see employment here – it’s a good site for that. But we have to take account of the issues.
“It’s going to be marginally better for traffic to come out of Wolsey Grange’s new entrance than from a retail park."
Cllr Peter Beer also called for a deferral, he said: “We are always told highways officers are experts, so we’ve got to accept what they’re saying.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here