Residents in Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, lodge more than 100 objections against plan for 61 homes near Ixworth Road

More than 100 objections have been lodged against plans for a further 61 homes in a Suffolk village.

Persimmon Homes is seeking full planning permission for the homes and associated infrastructure on land west of Ixworth Road in Thurston.

The application is for phase two of a larger development, totalling 248 homes, and granted outline permission in 2019. The first phase, known as College Park, to the north, has been completed.

However, 105 objections have now been submitted on the council’s planning portal, against the phase two plan, including a lengthy submission from Thurston Parish Council, which considered the plan at a recent meeting.

The parish council states: “The parish council would like to confirm that it objects to this application in its current form.

“It appreciates that some minor amendments have been made in direct response to comments submitted by the parish council at the pre-application meetings with representatives from Persimmons Homes Suffolk but feels that overall, little regard was taken of the concerns raised in terms of numbers and layout.”

It lists its concerns as density of the build, type of dwellings, lack of distinctive character, lack of landscaping detail, highways concerns, including a ‘lack of action’ over plans for improvements at Fishwick Corner, Pokeriage Corner, Beyton Road / Barton Road, Station Road, Norton Road, Ixworth Road.”

It added: “The parish council would further wish to reiterate the concerns that have been raised within the village of Thurston at the submission of yet more housing for the village.

“It is recognised within the village that as a key service centre the village of Thurston will appeal to developers and that a certain amount of growth is desirable and non-objectionable.

“However the parish council is concerned that the development that has occurred over the last five years will have a negative impact on the current infrastructure and that there should be a strict control over new housing proposals and the associated numbers until the general infrastructure of Thurston and the surrounding areas has been given time to absorb new residents and the impacts that this associated growth will have on a rural village.

“The Parish Council encourages the developer and district council to continue discussions to produce a different configuration which reflects the needs and aspirations of the villagers of Thurston.”

Residents in the village recently set up a campaign group insisting infrastructure works must be be completed before any more houses are completed.

The village has seen a raft of planning applications since 2017. At present, up to 1,248 new homes have been approved in Thurston across seven sites including Ixworth Road, Norton Road, Beyton Road and Barton Road.

The group is calling for a halt on all developments until a ‘robust infrastructure’ is in place for roads, healthcare and schools to meet the growing village needs.

Resident Andrew Ridgeon, who launched the Thurston Suffolk: Are You Opposed to Further Development group on Facebook, said: “Our primary objective is to ensure, without compromise, there is no further development within the parish including, approved but yet to commence developments in Beyton Road and Ixworth Road, and under no circumstances any further planning applications considered or approved.”

In a statement before the council, Persimmon Homes said: "It is considered that the proposal constitutes a sustainable and well -designed development that accords with relevant National and Local policies.

In a planning statement, Persimmon Homes said regarding the phase two plan.

“The scheme will have a unique design and will differ from phase one, however the proposals ensure that the two schemes will interlink in terms of connectivity, amenity and open space.

“These interlinked areas of public open space can be enjoyed by the existing residents as well as residents of the new development.

“The development has been designed to reflect the local vernacular particularly in terms of design features and elevational treatments whilst creating a modern 21st century community.

“The scheme has been carefully designed to link to the wider town, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists, to encourage sustainable forms of travel within Thurston and to encourage use of the local amenities and integration of new and existing residents.

“A focus on sustainability has been taken on the scheme as a whole but particularly on this phase, providing sustainability enhancements including electric vehicle charging, the opportunity for rainwater harvesting and non-gas heating for all dwellings.

“It is considered that the proposal constitutes a sustainable and well -designed development that accords with relevant National and Local policies. If approved, this will make a positive contribution to the growth of Thurston.

The full planning application for 61 homes, submitted on May 20, includes plans for open space and infrastructure. It consists of 14 three bedroom homes, 11 homes with more than four bedrooms, 10 two bedroom homes and four one bedroom homes.

It also includes affordable homes including eight with two bedrooms, nine with three bedrooms, and one with more than four bedrooms. There are also plans for four one bedroom flats.l

Residents have raised concerns about the surrounding road network, access to schools and GPs, drainage and biodiversity, such as threat to wildlife.

One resident from Victoria Close, Thurston, said: “Thurston cannot cope with any more houses. The village is bursting at the seams and enough is enough.”

An application determination deadline of August 20 has been set by the district council.