Plans for traveller pitches near Crowfield recommended for refusal after 202 objections
Planning officers cite an unauthorised breach, flooding risk and a lack of landscaping detail
Plans to build traveller pitches near a village have been recommended for refusal by planners after more than 200 objections.
Mr James Sheridan wants to convert the campsite at the back of the Crowfield Rose pub, in Debenham Road, near Stowmarket, into 18 pitches for him and his extended family.
Each pitch would have a static caravan, a touring caravan and a day room.
According to a report to be presented at Mid Suffolk District Council’s planning meeting next week, works have already started on the site without planning permission.
It says the planning breach is intentional and the applicant is ‘understood to be resident on the site’, leading to an ongoing live enforcement case.
Planning officers said the breach, alongside concerns around a lack of information relating to landscaping and flooding risk, formed enough grounds to turn down the plans.
The refusal recommendation follows significant local backlash, with 202 objections submitted to the authority, raising issues around the scheme’s scale, the overall suitability of the rural area and pressures on local services.
One resident said: “This scale of development is entirely inappropriate for a small rural village such as Crowfield and would place unacceptable pressure on the local area, infrastructure and community.
“Crowfield simply does not possess the amenities, facilities or services required to sustainably support a development of this nature and size.”
Another added: “This is a major overdevelopment of agricultural land that will overwhelm the village, reduce economic activity by damaging tourism and the village public house and lead to sewage contamination of local water supplies.”
Crowfield, Debenham, Gosbeck, Pettaugh and Stonham Aspal parish councils have all formally objected.
The authority also received three letters in support of the plans as a way to address unmet need for traveller accommodation and provide benefits to local businesses.
Planning officers challenged the need for further such accommodation, with 50 pitches already approved but either not occupied by those identified as a gypsy or traveller, or vacant altogether.