The main problem is that since the principle of the development was included in the Local Plan, and the developer had jumped through all the hoops required by the officers in respect of landscaping, highways, building design etc. etc. a refusal at this stage would certainly have been reversed on appeal. This would have been very costly for Babergh (and thus for you and me as council tax payers).
The size of the development, traffic at the school and local infrastructure were raised and discussed at length. The ‘creep’ that had raised the number of houses from 40 in the original plan to 93 today was brought up, and it was quite clear looking around the room that a number of councillors felt uncomfortable with this. I am sure that this is only the first of many similar cases, and next time it may well be housing plans in their wards that are affected! With the benefit of hindsight it is possible to trace how the increase came about, but realistically only a real planning anorak might have predicted it. (Please give me a call if you really want chapter and verse).
I made clear that we felt that it was very misleading to leave the indicated number of 40 in the final version of the Local Plan after the Inspector had quite clearly stated that the housing density on the site as planned was too low. This effectively meant that the village was lulled into a false sense of security and did not take their opportunity to object at the most appropriate stage in proceedings.
What lessons can be learned from this? As I have said before, the key to planning is eternal and early vigilance. Babergh will shortly be moving on to the next strategic plan for the District. We must all keep our eyes open for anything that will affect Waldingfield Ward and attempt to take pre-emptive action where necessary.
On a brighter note, during the debate councillors’ attention was brought to the congestion issues at the School, and the question of whether improved parking might be arranged using land belonging to Babergh will now be investigated. This would be great, but please don't raise your hope s too much in this regard. Things of this nature, I have learned already, take time.
