Plans for 65 new homes in Eyke, near Woodbridge, approved by East Suffolk Council despite concerns

Plans for 65 new homes in a Suffolk village have been approved despite concerns.

Members of East Suffolk’s planning committee met yesterday afternoon to discuss the plans Denbury Homes submitted to the council for a development in Eyke, near Woodbridge.

These included full details for 65 new homes, 21 of which affordable, on agricultural land south of Eyke’s primary school, and east of The Street.

Denbury Homes also proposed changing the use of agricultural land to provide for the expansion of the adjacent primary school, as well as extending the village car park.

The plans received five objections from residents as well as formal objections from Eyke, Bromeswell, Melton, and Hollesley parish councils — concerns raised included, primarily, the amount of traffic that would be generated, the speed limit in the village, and the lack of services.

Committee members heard from Cllr Isabelle Abu-Hejleh, who spoke as a resident, and Lee Weavers, Eyke PC clerk, who both acknowledged the need for the new homes but expressed the local concerns.

Cllr Abu-Hejleh added the houses would alter the village’s character and the cumulative impacts of traffic generated by the development, along with other housing plans for the area, would be ‘madness’ and ‘make it even more dangerous than it already is’.

The planning officer acknowledged the cumulative impacts of different developments were of concern but added the traffic created by the Denbury Homes plans alone would not result in a big impact.

He added: “It’s a considerable amount of housing in this village but on the highway network, 65 dwellings is not a substantial increase that would result in any significant impacts in the wider area.”

Robert Eburne, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, pointed out the development would prioritise the housing needs of residents.

He said: “Local people in housing ended will be allowed the first opportunity to be the first residents of the affordable homes before they’re offered to people with connections to surrounding parishes.

“We look forward to working with the community as we move forward to deliver a high-quality dev which will be an enduring, green, inclusive, safe, and sensitively designed addition to the village.”

Overall, although councillors shared some of the concerns raised through the representations, they praised the quality of the plans.

Cllr Colin Hedgley also pointed out the development could bring in new services to the village.

He said: “I realise the facilities in the village have reduced quite considerably and it must come as a blow to them but there’s an opportunity here to reverse that.”

Cllr Bennett also called for other methods of transport, such as cycling and e-scooters, to be accommodated.

He added: “This is an out-of-town, car-dependent, development and that is what we generally are trying to get away from.”

As part of the statutory financial contributions, the developer will contribute close to £850,000 to education provision, school transport, libraries, and household waste.

After transferring the car park to the parish council, the expansion will see the developer either carrying out the work or paying the parish council £41,000 to do so.

Voting in support of the proposals was unanimous, with the development to begin in November and the first homes expected to be ready for occupation by October 2025.