Orwell logistics park near Felixstowe given final go ahead by councillors

By Derek Davis

27th Oct 2021 | Local News

Final planning permission for a new logistics park off the A14 between Felixstowe and Ipswich has been approved, creating more than 1,100 new jobs.

Approval for matters around landscaping, scale, appearance, layout and access for land at the former Orwell Crossing park next to the truck stop and Ransomes industrial estate had been deferred from last month.

That was to enable councillors to carry out a site visit amid concerns over the 21 metre height of the buildings.

While those fears remain, the land has been allocated in the masterplan for employment use, and developers Orwell Truck Stop Ltd have already secured outline permission in 2018.

Permission for the final matters was secured on Tuesday afternoon when the application returned to the planning south committee.

The 60-acre site will now be developed for three large units – two on the western portion on brownfield land and one on the eastern side on greenfield land.

Tim Rainbird, agent from Quod on behalf of the applicant, said: "The approval of this reserved matters application will give rise to substantial economic benefits – nearly 1,200 full time equivalent jobs in addition to 300 construction jobs, £40million a year of additional wages and up to £92m per year of additional economic activity.

"These benefits will help grow the economy, providing warehousing that supports port-related activities in the right location , addressing deficiencies in the logistics supply market and underpinning key aspirations of East Suffolk's strategic plan."

Mr Rainbird said that the units would be 66m away from home – nearly 20m further away than the original plans at the outline stage.

It is anticipated that work on the first phase – the western two units and vehicle entrance – will be in the spring or summer of next year.

However, fears have been expressed over the height of the units imposing on neighbours.

Objector Adrian Day said: "At 21m they would totally overwhelm the properties."

He added that they were 'too excessive for a rural location'.

Additionally, he said the scheme would 'shatter the lives and wellbeing of the local residents'.

Graeme Watts, from Brightwell, Foxhall and Purdis Farm Group Parish Council, said it would have a 'serious impact on the quality of life' of nearby residents, and cited other concerns around the pedestrian footpath plans to the rear of the site near Felixstowe Road.

With the site off the A14 eastbound carriageway, trucks will be required to use the Seven Hills junction to head westbound. However, planning officers said improvements to that junction are being secured through the 2,000-home Brightwell Lakes development.

     

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