The Babergh Planning Committee met on 20 August 2025, and voted to approve a planning application for the erection of a replacement dwelling at Rectory Cottage, Shimpling, despite the officer recommendation for refusal. The committee also confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2025.

DC/24/04287 Rectory Cottage, Old Rectory Lane, Shimpling

The committee approved a full planning application for the 'Erection of 1No replacement dwelling including enhancement of 5 acre horse paddock (existing dwelling to become Bat Habitat)' at Rectory Cottage, Old Rectory Lane, Shimpling. This was contrary to the officer's recommendation to refuse the application.

The Case Officer, Lynda Bacon, introduced the application, outlining the proposal, the location of the site, site constraints, the existing and proposed site layout, the proposed elevations and materials of the new dwelling, the internal layout, the proposed use of the existing dwelling, and the officer recommendation of refusal, along with the policy reasons.

Gill Perkins spoke as a supporter of the application, and Craig Beech spoke as the agent. Councillor Michael Holt, Chadacre Ward Member, who was unable to attend the meeting, submitted a statement which was read out by the Governance Officer.

The committee debated the application, focusing on whether the proposed new building could be defined as a replacement building within the agreed policies, the low number of objections received, the biodiversity merits of the project, and the potential Heavy Goods Vehicle movements during the construction phase.

The Area Planning Manager, whose name is not provided in the documents, advised the committee regarding policy LP04 contained in the Joint Local Plan, and its application.

Councillor Margaret Maybury proposed that the application be approved based on the environmental benefits of the development, and Councillor Peter Beer seconded the proposal.

The Area Planning Manager and the Planning Lawyer, whose name is not provided in the documents, provided guidance to members regarding the reasons for approving the application.

The Planning Lawyer confirmed with Councillor Margaret Maybury that the officer's advice, that the proposed building was not a replacement dwelling and therefore contrary to policy, was accepted and that she believed the material considerations outweighed that.

The committee voted to approve the application, subject to conditions and the completion of a legal agreement. Nine councillors voted for the proposal and two against.

The reasons for approval, as stated in the Printed Minutes, were:

Whilst contrary to policies SP03 and LP04 of the Joint Local Plan, the site comprises untreated land and possesses connectivity to the woodland and SSSI, and the environmental benefits outweigh the departure from policy due to:

• educational, benefits to the public
• benefits to the environment, wildlife and scientific research
• enhancements to the environment and good sustainable construction.

These are benefits which may be secured in perpetuity and material considerations which allow us to make a decision contrary to policy.

The approval was subject to the completion of a legal agreement to:

• Permanently relinquish any existing residential use rights on the existing cottage
• Establish landscape and habitat management as well as bat habitat in perpetuity and to tie the new dwelling to this use
• Implement measures for education relating to the above.

The conditions included:

• Standard time limit
• Drawing numbers
• Parking
• EV charging
• Bins/Recycling
• Cycle parking
• Construction Management Plan (including ref to small vans)
• Advance planting
• Soft landscaping
• Timetable for landscaping
• Landscape and Ecological Management Plan
• Compliance with Ecological Appraisal recommendations
• Precautionary Biodiversity Method Statement
• Bat disturbance avoidance
• Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy
• Wildlife sensitive lighting
• Foul drainage
• Construction Plan compliance
• Removal of Permitted Development rights¹

Confirmation of Minutes

The committee resolved to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2025 as a true record, proposed by Councillor Tim Regester and seconded by Councillor Adrian Osborne.