GP capacity issues revealed as West Suffolk Council considers plans for up to 160 homes in Ixworth, near Bury St Edmunds
GP services in a village which is set to grow are already operating over capacity, it has been revealed.
Health bosses detailed the over-stretched healthcare reality in Ixworth, near Bury St Edmunds, in a response to outline plans for a development of up to 160-homes in the village.
The GP capacity concerns join those voiced by parish and district councillors this week, after residents spoke out against the plans, saying services were already at ‘breaking point’.
West Suffolk Council is considering the outline planning application submitted by Pigeon Capital Management for up to 160 homes, open space, drainage and associated infrastructure on land west of Bardwell Road.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board’s response to the scheme said Ixworth Surgery was already operating over capacity and did not have capacity for the growth – approximately 368 residents – resulting from the proposed development.
“The development would have an impact on the primary healthcare provision in the area and its implications, if unmitigated, would be unsustainable,” said Chris Crisell, Suffolk and North Essex ICB estates strategic planning manager.
The ICB calculated it would need a £92,200 capital contribution from the developer, by way of a section 106 payment, to mitigate the impacts of the estate.
Ixworth parish councillors, during their meeting last week, unanimously voted to object to the scheme.
Their objections include: the proposed number of homes being above the site allocation of 145 homes in the emerging West Suffolk Local Plan; the planned access on to Bardwell Road being unsafe and unsuitable, with the potential to increase village congestion, while its location is used by waiting school buses; flawed public rights of way proposals; the impact on services such as GPs and education; and lack of community recreation infrastructure, including open space and funding to upgrade the ageing 1932 village hall.
Ben Lord, parish council chairman, said: “This application offers nothing to the community of Ixworth, both existing and future, by way of community recreation infrastructure.
“While the parish council recognises the need for new housing in Ixworth and welcomes the prospect of new development, it must be balanced with suitable infrastructure investment and upgrades.”
Ixworth ward district councillor John Griffiths has backed the parish council’s concerns.
He said: “I welcome, and would support, the right kind of and appropriate number of new housing in my ward, as long as this was accompanied by the necessary improvement to the infrastructure in and around Ixworth.
“To my mind road, transport, access, safety, congestion, parking and other issues need addressing now.”
He is urging Pigeon to work with the authorities to address some of the issues.
Meanwhile, Simon Collin, West Suffolk Council parks infrastructure manager, said Ixworth ward already had a deficit of amenity green space, children’s play space and natural green space.
He added that the scheme’s proposed play space provision was inadequate and an equipped play area should be provided.
A spokesman for Pigeon said: “Pigeon is a local business with a genuine commitment to unlocking sustainable development in line with local ambition.
“Our approach to the proposals for Ixworth includes extensive public consultation and engagement, particularly with key consultees such as the parish council and the highways authority.
“The site is allocated by West Suffolk Council in their emerging and significantly advanced local plan, which also assesses overall contributions towards improved infrastructure delivery for this site and all others in the district. For our part, we are focussed on mitigating the impacts of our development in a way that reflects this ambition, both through the acceleration of much-needed new homes and public open spaces, as well as financial contributions towards health, education and more.”
