Developer under fire after planning application for 1,150-home Chilton Woods development in Sudbury submitted before public consultation finished

A developer has been accused of jumping the gun by pushing ahead with aspects of the 1,150-home Chilton Woods estate before a consultation had finished.

On November 11, Taylor Wimpey launched a 14-day public debate on its ‘design code’ for the project, which also includes plans for shops, a pub, a community centre, and a village green to be built on land off the A134 to Sudbury’s north.

But just two days later, the developer applied to Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils for permission to proceed with phase one infrastructure matters relating to the project. It is understood this is not the final sign-off, but does contain major foundations to the plan.

Green Party activist Jessie Carter, who runs Green Man Munchies café in Sudbury, said: “Did Taylor Wimpey really have any intention of listening, or is this just box-ticking?

“Within the application, there is already a complete strategy for the drainage of rainwater, despite the consultation asking for public opinions on it. The road and cycle network appears to be fully designed, despite Taylor Wimpey having asked for our views.”

A Green Party colleague added that the application contained landscaping plans, despite these also being part of the consultation.

Taylor Wimpey secured outline planning permission in 2018 and has since sealed a £35 million site purchase agreement.

A spokesman for the firm said: “Our reserved matters planning application provides technical detail on the setting out of the site-wide distributor road within the residential land and associated surface water drainage systems on the Chilton Woods site.

“The application acts solely to provide further detail on the delivery of highways and drainage infrastructure, within the established parameters of the outline planning permission.”

The spokesman added: “We are grateful to all those who provided feedback on our draft design code during the public consultation period.

“Prior to submission to Babergh District Council, we will update our website and contact stakeholders to outline the changes that have been made to the document as a result of feedback received.”