The Development Control Committee of West Suffolk Council met on Wednesday 1 April 2026 to discuss several planning applications. The committee approved a large solar farm development in Horringer, granted outline permission for up to 60 new homes in Barningham, and approved the change of use and refurbishment of the former West Suffolk Council Depot in Bury St Edmunds into a leisure facility. Additionally, planning permission and listed building consent were granted for resurfacing works to a pathway at St Mary's Church in Bury St Edmunds.

Planning Application DC/25/0909/FUL - Land off Poulters Lane, Horringer

The committee granted planning permission for a significant ground-mounted photovoltaic solar array, along with associated infrastructure, operational vehicular access, and temporary construction compounds. The proposal includes landscaping and biodiversity enhancements. Despite objections from Horringer cum Ickworth and Whepstead Parish Councils, and the Ward Councillor for Horringer, Councillor Sarah Pugh, the committee approved the application. The decision was made after considering the principle of renewable energy generation, environmental impact assessments, loss of agricultural land, landscape and visual impact, residential amenity, heritage assets, transport, ecology, trees, flooding, decommissioning, and other matters. The report highlighted the project's contribution to renewable energy production, supporting the council's climate emergency declaration and net-zero targets. Concerns regarding the loss of agricultural land were weighed against the temporary nature of the development and its potential for soil health restoration and biodiversity enhancements. While acknowledging landscape and visual impacts, mitigation measures through additional planting and the temporary nature of the development were considered. Heritage impacts on listed buildings and the setting of Ickworth Park were assessed as less than substantial harm, outweighed by the public benefits of renewable energy generation. Transport and highway impacts were deemed acceptable, with conditions to ensure access improvements and a construction management plan. Ecological and biodiversity net gains were significant, exceeding mandatory requirements. Flooding and drainage strategies were approved, with conditions to ensure sustainable drainage systems are implemented. The committee concluded that the benefits of the scheme, particularly its contribution to climate change mitigation and energy security, outweighed the identified harms.

Planning Application DC/25/0963/OUT – Land South of Hopton Road, Barningham

Outline planning permission was granted for up to 60 dwellings on land south of Hopton Road, Barningham. This decision allows for the means of main vehicular access from Hopton Road to be considered, with all other matters reserved for future approval. The application was called in by the Ward Member, Councillor Carol Bull. The approved scheme includes a mix of housing types and tenures, with 40% affordable housing, alongside public open space, a Local Equipped Area of Play (LEAP), pocket parks, and biodiversity net gain measures. The development is allocated in the West Suffolk Local Plan for around 37 homes, but the committee approved an uplift to 60 dwellings, deeming it a reasonable increase that optimises land use without compromising design quality, amenity, environmental safeguards, or infrastructure capacity. This decision was supported by technical assessments confirming the local highway network, drainage systems, and utilities could accommodate the scale of development. Contributions towards education, healthcare, and other local infrastructure were secured through a Section 106 Agreement. Concerns regarding the scale of development in a rural settlement, potential flooding exacerbation, highway safety, and public transport provision were addressed through conditions and the outline nature of the application, allowing for detailed scrutiny at the Reserved Matters stage. The committee concluded that the proposal aligns with national and local planning policies, delivering significant housing and affordable housing benefits while mitigating environmental impacts.

Planning Application DC/25/2028/FUL – West Suffolk Council Depot, Olding Road, Bury St Edmunds

The committee approved the change of use and part demolition of the existing warehouse/depot at Olding Road, Bury St Edmunds, to a leisure/recreation use (Class E(d)). The proposal also includes a replacement roof and cladding, along with associated infrastructure, parking, and landscaping works. This application was brought before the committee as West Suffolk Council is the applicant. The site, previously used for storage and distribution (Class B8), is now allocated under Policy SP23p of the West Suffolk Local Plan for alternative uses including leisure, education, health, and public facilities. The applicant demonstrated that the site had been marketed for its existing lawful use without interest, making the proposed change of use an effective alternative for this brownfield site. The refurbishment and reduction in scale of the building were considered to improve its appearance and provide significant public benefit through a modern leisure facility. Concerns regarding amenity impacts were addressed by the location of the site within a busy area and the proposed conditions to control construction hours, noise, and external lighting. Highway impacts were deemed acceptable, with no objections from Suffolk County Council Highways, subject to conditions regarding parking, bin storage, a construction management plan, and links to cycle paths. Biodiversity net gain requirements were met through on-site habitat creation, exceeding the mandatory 10% target. Ecological impacts were considered acceptable, with conditions to ensure adherence to ecological reports and a construction environmental management plan. Sustainability measures, including photovoltaic panels and climate resilience, were noted, with conditions to ensure water, energy, and resource efficiency. Air quality impacts were deemed negligible, with provisions for electric vehicle charging points. Contaminated land testing was ongoing, with an anticipated acceptable outcome. Surface water drainage strategies were also addressed with recommended conditions.

Planning Application DC/25/2035/FUL & Listed Building Consent DC/25/2036/LB – St Marys Church, Crown Street, Bury St Edmunds

Planning permission and listed building consent were approved for resurfacing works to a pathway behind St Mary's Church in Bury St Edmunds. These works are part of the Abbey of St Edmund Reborn Project, aiming to improve connectivity and showcase local heritage. The proposal involves replacing the existing gravel and hoggin pathway with a new tar-and-chip surface course, using a buff or natural-coloured aggregate to harmonise with the historic surroundings. Timber edging will be introduced to adjacent planted verges. The applications were brought before the committee as West Suffolk Council is the applicant. The Conservation Officer and Historic England raised no objections, finding that the works would not detrimentally impact the character or appearance of the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Conservation Area or the setting of the Grade I listed St Mary's Church. Suffolk County Council Archaeology Department raised no objection, subject to a pre-commencement condition for a written scheme of investigation. The proposal was considered to comply with relevant policies regarding design, conservation areas, listed buildings, and trees, with an Arboricultural Method Statement and Tree Protection Plan submitted to mitigate any impacts on protected trees. Biodiversity net gain requirements were exempt due to the scale of the development. The works were deemed to respect the character and appearance of the building, the conservation area, and the Abbey Gardens, and would not adversely affect residential amenity.