FINAL decisions have today been made on two of the largest and most controversial planning applications in Woodbridge in recent years.Redevelopment of the existing school site in New Street and a project to build social housing on land just off Haugh Lane, have both been given the go-ahead despite widespread local opposition.

FINAL decisions have today been made on two of the largest and most controversial planning applications in Woodbridge in recent years.

Redevelopment of the existing school site in New Street and a project to build social housing on land just off Haugh Lane, have both been given the go-ahead despite widespread local opposition.

The project to build a new library, 18 houses and five flats, on the site where Woodbridge Primary School currently stands is part of a much larger application by Suffolk County Council to relocate the school to a site in Pytches Lane in Melton.

The decision to move the school has already been approved but Suffolk Coastal Planners have the final say on what will happen at the old site once the school has moved.

At a meeting this morning Suffolk Coastal's Development Control sub committee heard from Woodbridge Town Council and local residents who feared the proposals would have a devastating impact on the town centre.

John Chapman, a resident of New Street, said: "This application will destroy Woodbridge Town centre and disastrously affect the community and the town's traders."

The committee heard that nearly 800 letters of objections to the scheme had been received. But the committee were read a letter from the school's Chair of Governors which spoke of the current building's outdated facilities and urged the council for their support.

It said "The school hopes that Suffolk Coastal will agree to these planning alterations so that this project can commence and the children of Woodbridge can get the improvements they deserve."

The committee approved the application subject to a number of conditions to prevent overlooking of nearby houses.

In another controversial decision the committee also approved an application for 32 affordable homes on land off Haugh Lane.

The applications by the Suffolk Heritage Housing Association has been refused twice but this re-submission addressed concerns over flooding and the density of houses.

Fifty three letters of objection were received with residents claiming the re-submitted applications did little to address existing issues.

Speaking in support of the scheme Jonathan Sullivan, Group Property Director for Flagship Housing urged the committee to consider the desperate need for low cost housing in Suffolk and described the scheme as "probably the last chance for affordable housing in Woodbridge".

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