The Development Control Committee of West Suffolk Council met on Wednesday 1 July 2026 to discuss three planning applications. The committee granted permission for a new housing development in Ixworth, a single dwelling in Clare, and a variation of conditions for an operational hub in Fornham St Martin.

Planning Application DC/25/0666/HYB - Land off Crown Lane, Crown Lane, Ixworth

The committee granted planning permission for a hybrid planning application for the provision of 187 dwellings, public open space, landscaping, and associated infrastructure, along with an outline planning application for a 2.2-hectare primary school site. This decision was made subject to the signing of a Section 106 agreement and a series of conditions.

The application, which was called in by the Ward Member Councillor John Griffiths, proposed more dwellings than the 145 allocated in Policy AP30 of the West Suffolk Local Plan. However, officers considered that if other policy requirements were met, a higher number of homes could be acceptable. A key point of discussion was the lack of an agreed masterplan for the site, which conflicted with Policy AP30. Despite this, the committee found that the development largely complied with other requirements, including the provision of a safe access from the A1088, sustainable travel provisions, land for a primary school and early years setting, open space, and green infrastructure.

Significant developer contributions were agreed through the Section 106 agreement, totalling over £2.5 million for education, libraries, public rights of way, waste infrastructure, and healthcare provision. Contributions were also allocated for BNG monitoring, built facilities, SAMM, and SANG monitoring.

Numerous conditions were attached to the permission, covering aspects such as time limits, approved plans, contamination remediation, surface water drainage, biodiversity net gain, landscape and ecological management, construction environmental management, nesting birds, lighting design, tree protection, and the provision of public open space, including a LEAP and pocket parks. Specific conditions were also included for the school site, covering reserved matters, ecological surveys, BREEAM standards, and a school travel plan.

Planning Application DC/26/0283/FUL - Development Site, Stoke Road, Clare

Permission was granted for the construction of one dwelling on land at Clare Golf Club. This decision was made despite the proposal conflicting with Policy SP21 of the West Suffolk Local Plan, which governs housing in the countryside.

Officers noted that the site was previously developed land and was located within 1km of Clare town centre, a Key Service Centre, with pedestrian connectivity via an existing footpath. This proximity to services and the use of brownfield land were considered material considerations that outweighed the conflict with Policy SP21. The proposed dwelling was deemed to be of a scale and character commensurate with surrounding dwellings, and adequate parking and amenity space were provided. Conditions were imposed regarding time limits, approved plans, contamination remediation, parking and cycle storage, boundary treatments, construction management, acoustic insulation, construction hours, external lighting, soft landscaping, and biodiversity enhancements.

Planning Application DC/26/0487/VAR - West Suffolk Operational Hub, Bury Road, Fornham St Martin

The committee approved a variation of condition 1 of a previous planning permission (DC/24/1072/VAR) to allow for amended plans for the waste transfer area of the municipal operational hub. The changes, which include the separate handling of food waste, involve the installation of a single-storey office container, welfare cabin, booster pump, pressure washer system, EV charger, and a new personnel door to the food waste bay.

The application was referred to the committee because the applicants were West Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council. The proposed changes were necessary to comply with incoming regulatory changes for waste management, particularly concerning the segregation and handling of food waste. Officers concluded that the proposed changes were modest and would not have adverse impacts on residential or visual amenity, nor on highways. The site already benefits from substantial natural screening and is bounded by industrial development and agricultural land. Conditions were amended where appropriate, reflecting those imposed on the original planning permission and the previous variation of condition application.