Haverhill Town Council objects to Kingsfield Leasing Ltd apartments plans for land behind 24 Queen Street

A council has objected to a project to create two new apartments in Haverhill town centre.

In a planning committee meeting on Monday, Haverhill Town Council recorded its opposition to plans from Kingsfield Leasing Ltd for land behind 24 Queen Street.

The site, currently used as parking, could house a two-storey building with two one-bedroom apartments under the proposals.

Councillors expressed concerns over the impact the proposal could have on neighbouring properties, the development being too cramped and over development.

Cllr Mary Martin said she visited the site before the meeting and, to her, the plans represented a ‘very piecemeal development’.

“It’s unbelievable that someone would think of putting a dwelling there. I think it’s a totally inappropriate application and it should be refused,” she said.

“Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.”

In front of the site is a hairdressers on the ground floor and a self-contained flat above. The new apartments would be immediately behind this.

A planning statement said the proposals, combined with the space available, could be accommodated on the site ‘without any substantial impacts’ on the existing amenity of neighbouring properties.

Cllr Tony Brown said it would be a shame if the land was used for apartments as it would erode the loading space for any future shops.

“It would have no means of getting a truck in there. It’s a shame that it will all be taken up for housing when we’re having 4,000 houses built in the town anyway.”

Cllr John Burns echoed the comments from Cllrs Brown and Martin and questioned the impact the development would have on parking.

“I don’t know how many more flats we’re going to have built in the high street or Queen Street which doesn’t provide a solution to the parking problem. All they say is it’s a town centre location.

“I think Cllr Martin is right, it’s just chuck it in there because we can. Murton Slade will end up being just another car park.”

Pedestrians and cyclists would access the site via Murton Slade and Queen Street.

Cllr Roger André proposed the motion to object, which was seconded by Cllr Aaron Luccarini. It was passed.

The planning statement said the apartments would deliver a ‘wholly appropriate residential development of an underused, previously developed site’ in a sustainable location. A decision on the plans is due by December 3.