Dedham Vale Society

SUFFOLK PLANNING NOTESCompared with the major threats of Horkesley Park, pylons and overflying aircraft routine planningmatters on the Suffolk side of the River Stour over the last six months pale into significance. With thehiatus created by the incoming coalition government there has been, and is unlikely to be in theimmediate future, no progress on Babergh’s Local Development Framework or the creation of a singleunitary authority for the whole of Suffolk, excluding Ipswich and environs. At a more local level Stokeby Nayland’s Parish Council is seriously considering developing its own Village Design Statement indefault of any extant Design Guide at either District or County level.There have been few contentious applications over the last half year. In Nayland an over ambitious andill thought out application to convert the former bus station in the middle of the village has beenvigorously and so far successfully resisted. In Stoke by Nayland an application to add a small extensionto the late 18c listed fishing lodge, the Temple, in Tendring Hall park has been rejected by BaberghDistrict council and a proposal to rebuild an undistinguished cottage on Scotland Street, Stoke byNayland has produced strong objections from the Suffolk Preservation Society, us and the ParishCouncil. An unusual application in Polstead seeks to replace a modern 1970s house with an even morefuturistic 21 st century dwelling. The site is well shielded and the new structure would be little moreintrusive than its predecessor but it can only be reached by a narrow and already degraded lane. Theinevitable construction traffic would certainly destroy what remains of the metalled surface and it is tobe hoped that the Council would insist on the reinstatement of the lane if they were to grant permissionfor the new house.Poplar Farm, Stoke by Nayland (now open for B&B)17