Proposal for new homes in Withersfield, near Haverhill, turned down for a third time

A third bid by a developer to knock down a house in Withersfield, near Haverhill, and build five properties there has been refused by West Suffolk Council (WSC).

Timber and Stone Properties Ltd, of Hundon, wanted to demolish Milton House, on Thurlow Road and build a mixture of one to four bedroom properties.

West Suffolk Council had previously rejected planning applications, both for five properties, in 2020 and 2021, and an appeal with the Planning Inspector in 2022 was also denied.

WSC’s development control committee voted to turn down the application last week following a site visit.

The decision notice issued by WSC said: “The proposed development of five dwellings, gardens, parking and hardstanding is considered to be an overdevelopment of the site.”

The notice said the proposal was also rejected because of ‘the harmful impact on the amenity of the neighbouring dwellings, and the poor standard of living conditions for the future occupiers of one of the new properties’.

More than 40 letters of objection were submitted by Withersfield residents.

They included one from Withersfield parish and West Suffolk councillor Indy Wijenayaka, who cited not only the over development of the site but also that the ‘proposal will increase the vehicle capacity from 2 to 14’ which he felt was a ‘significant and unacceptable increase’.