Controversial plans for major Boxford factory expansion withdrawn

Controversial plans to expand a drinks factory near Boxford to almost four times its current size have been axed – a decision hailed by opponents as a victory for common sense.

Drinks maker Konings has written to parish councils to confirm it is withdrawing a planning application that sought permission to develop the 5.5-acre site on Brick Kiln Hill into a 19-acre manufacturing base over the next 10 years.

The proposed £35 million investment had undergone a lengthy consultation and planning process, and faced significant opposition from parish councils, villagers and conservation groups.

In his letter, Phil Clark, Konings site lead in Boxford, reiterated that the factory, as it stands today, lacks sufficient scale to be viable in the long-term.

But he said that, after due consideration over the last four months, the firm determined the site’s output could be increased within its existing boundaries.

Konings will now submit a revised application for a smaller-scale expansion.

Mr Clark wrote: “Over the last year or so, Konings UK has striven to balance the concerns of stakeholders, the needs of our customers and to ensure the site has a long-term future, protecting the 90 direct employees and the indirect employees of businesses that have working relationships with us.

“We have come to the conclusion that, while trying to balance the input of all stakeholders, there is sufficient scope to expand the site within the bounds of what is already permitted, by replacing a line that was mothballed in 2008.

“As a result, we will be formally withdrawing our current planning application.

“We had hoped to bring additional manufacturing and jobs to the area, but this has not been possible with the length and demands of the planning process, so we have to make alternative arrangements for our customers in other EU countries.

“The strategy for the Boxford site is now very much one of protecting the roles of the 90 people on site.”

The revised application will seek to increase the height of an already permitted building from 10 metres to 15 metres and install car parking at the site’s southern end. All other elements from the previous plan will be withdrawn.

The announcement has been welcomed by the campaign group Locals Against Konings Expansion (Lake).

A statement from the group said: “We are very pleased to learn that Konings has listened to the overwhelming public opposition to its plans and has taken the decision to withdraw its application.

“The proposed expansion of this site was never appropriate for this location in the protected Dedham Vale AONB and we are delighted common sense has prevailed on this occasion.

“We are aware Konings is planning to submit a new application on a smaller scale and we will, of course, need to evaluate this once it has been submitted before we are able to form an opinion on its suitability.

“We hope Konings strives to be a good neighbour and provide a higher level of real engagement with the community on this new application than it has to date.”