New delay over homes proposal

A DECISION on a major project for the redevelopment of a factory site at Melton has been delayed at least two months because of the number of protests from residents.

Developers Riduna Holdings want to use the six-acre site of the old Girdlestone pump suppliers' business in Station Road for 29 business units and offices, and a coffee shop.

Suffolk Coastal councillors are to visit the site on Monday and had planned to make a decision on June 23.

However, a decision will not be made until at least July 21 - and that is not definite.

A council spokesman said the authority's planning team need more time to draw together all the information on the proposals.

“A significant number of representations have been received about the application from local residents, the local parish council and an action group campaigning against the redevelopment of the former site of the Girdlestone's pump factory,” he said.”

“Planning officers are also seeking clarification from the applicants, Riduna Holdings, following the discovery by the county's highways team and the Environment Agency of some anomalies in the proposals regarding the flood risk assessment and the traffic risk assessment studies presented as part of the application.

“At this stage it is not possible to be certain that all the relevant clarifications will be in place in time for the application to be presented to the July meeting, or indeed whether the necessary changes are significant enough to need residents to be advised and consulted about them.”

Residents are concerned about traffic the development would generate, its impact on the landscape, and believe part of the site should be used for much-needed housing, though this might not be possible because part of the site is in a flood zone.

How would you like to see the site developed? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk