The West Suffolk Council's Development Control Committee met on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, to consider planning applications in Stanton and Haverhill. The committee was scheduled to discuss a large housing development in Stanton, as well as proposals for a replacement multi-use games area (MUGA) and associated advertising in Haverhill. A site visit to George Hill Nurseries in Stanton was planned for the day before the meeting.

Land East of Bury Road, Stanton

Councillors were scheduled to continue a discussion from their July meeting regarding an outline planning application for land east of Bury Road in Stanton. The application, submitted by Bloor Homes, is for the provision of up to 220 dwellings, including 40% affordable housing, as well as land for community uses, public open space, landscaping, and associated infrastructure. All matters were reserved except for means of access.

The application had been deferred at a previous meeting to address concerns about highway safety on the A143, the safety of pedestrians, and the impact on local infrastructure such as the Stanton Surgery and Stanton Community Primary School.

The report pack included additional information from the applicant, including a highways briefing note and various drawings illustrating the proposed traffic signal layout, vehicle tracking, and highway improvements.

The report pack stated that Suffolk County Council Highways had reviewed the updated plans and raised no objections, subject to conditions.

The report pack also detailed a number of contributions to be secured via a Section 106 agreement¹, including contributions towards affordable housing, public open space, NHS services, early years services, library services, public rights of way, and primary and secondary education.

Planning obligations can only mitigate the impacts of the development itself, to make it acceptable in planning terms. In order to comply with The Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended) planning obligations must be:

• necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms;
• directly related to the development; and
• fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development.

-- DEV/WS/25/026, Development Control Committee 3 September 2025

The report pack noted that the West Suffolk Local Plan was adopted on 15 July 2025, and that the council now has a 6.1 year housing land supply, meaning that the presumption in favour of sustainable development would no longer apply.

George Hill Nurseries, Barningham Road, Stanton

The committee was scheduled to consider a planning application to vary conditions relating to a previously approved outline permission (DC/20/2065/OUT) for ten dwellings at George Hill Nurseries, Barningham Road, Stanton. The application sought to amend the approved footway plans and associated access. A site visit was scheduled for 2 September 2025.

The application sought to vary condition 2, which requires the development to be carried out in accordance with the approved plans, and condition 23, which requires the carriageways and footways serving the dwellings to have been constructed to at least binder course level² prior to the occupation of the dwellings.

The proposed amendment related to the footpath improvements approved on the western side of Barningham Road only, with the intention to retain its existing width of 1.2 metres for a length of 25 metres, rather than widening it to 1.8 metres as previously approved. The report pack stated that the proposed amendment was necessary to avoid undermining high voltage electricity cable poles and the felling of mature trees.

The report pack noted that Suffolk County Council Highway Authority had no objection to the variation of conditions.

Motts Field, Chalkstone Way, Haverhill

The committee was scheduled to discuss two applications relating to Motts Field, Chalkstone Way, Haverhill. The first application (DC/25/0657/FUL) was for planning permission for a replacement multi-use games area (MUGA) and associated works, including floodlights. The second application (DC/25/0658/ADV) was for advertisement consent for seven non-illuminated advertising banners.

The proposed MUGA would be 20m x 30m, constructed with porous macadam, and would include a spectator area, 3m high perimeter fencing (rising to 4m in height), and four 8m high floodlights. The report pack stated that ten new rowan trees would be planted to complement the existing trees along Chalkstone Way.

The report pack stated that the proposed MUGA would be delivered through the PlayZone Programme, funded by the Football Foundation, and that West Suffolk Council had secured funding for three PlayZones, one each in Mildenhall, Newmarket and Haverhill.

The report pack noted that Haverhill Town Council had adopted a 'neutral stance' on the applications.

The report pack stated that Sport England had raised no objections, noting that the proposed PlayZone would mostly be situated within the boundaries of the existing MUGA, and that the portion of the playing field that would be lost consisted of land that could not be utilised as a playing field due to the siting of existing benches.

The report pack also noted that Suffolk County Council Highways had raised no objections, subject to a recommendation for secure cycle storage to be provided to promote sustainable travel.

The report pack stated that the proposed MUGA would mainly be accessible to those who had made a booking through the ClubSpark booking system, but that both 'free' and 'paid for' sessions would be available.

The report pack stated that the proposed advertisements would be non-illuminated and proportionate in relation to the fencing, and that the design and graphics of the signs were acceptable.