Cart lodge and noise bund at Tollgate Farm, Mendlesham, Stowmarket

The site and surroundings

The site is beside the A140, in open countryside, and includes a Grade II listed dwelling with no other immediate residential neighbours.

“The application site is located south-east of the village of Mendlesham, directly west of the A140 and the garden and grounds are presently open to view by passing traffic. The locally recognisable tv mast and its anchorage are located approximately 720m south-east on the other side of the A140 on the former wartime Mendlesham airfield. The landscape hereabouts is generally open, arable, with a scatter of farmsteads and tree/hedging.”

“The existing dwelling Tollgate Farm is a grade II listed building and is neighboured by Tollgate Farm Barn directly to the south, which was converted under Part 3, Class Q of the General Permitted Development Order. The site has no other immediate residential neighbours.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier permissions included converting an agricultural building into a dwelling and several alterations, while a two-storey extension application was refused.

“REF: 0171/04/LB ERECT TWO STOREY REAR EXTENSION WITH REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING PROPERTY. (RE-SUBMISSION OF PREVIOUS APPLICATION 523/04 & LB/112/04). DECISION: GTD 19.08.2004”

“REF: 0112/04/LB REPAIRS, ALTERATION AND EXTENSION. REPLACE SOLE PLATE, & RE-RENDER IN LIME RENDER. REMOVE PORCH, KITCHEN EXTENSION & UTILITY/STORE BUILDING. RE-ROOF IN CLAY PLAIN TILE. REDECORATE EXTERNALLY. NEW PITCHED ROOF OVER DORMER WINDOW. INTERNAL ALTERATIONS. DECISION: REF 18.06.2004”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended refusal because the bund and acoustic fence would harm the listed building’s setting and historic landscape without public benefits to outweigh that harm.

“However, the proposed bund and acoustic fence, does not receive in principle support from the Development Plan, and would represent a departure from policy and would be in conflict with the Councils statutory duties. This element of the application causes a low level of less than substantial harm to Tollgate Farm, and to the character of the application site and to the wider historic landscape.”

“The proposed bund and associated acoustic fence would result in a low level of less-than-substantial harm to the significance of Tollgate Farm and to the character of the site and wider historic landscape. Under NPPF paragraphs 199–202, even less-than-substantial harm to a heritage asset must be given great weight, and such harm must be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent and the ward member spoke to the committee and answered Members’ questions about noise mitigation and landscaping.

Members’ debate

Members debated noise mitigation, existing bunds, the landscape, heritage harm and conditions to retain landscaping, then considered the benefits to health and wellbeing.

“Members debated the application on issues including: the adjacent mast and the impact this has on the landscape, the number of existing properties with bunds, the need for noise mitigation at the property, the level of heritage harm, and the conditions which could be applied to ensure retention of the landscaping.”

“Members considered that the harm was outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal in respect of health, well-being and noise.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Members unanimously granted planning permission, subject to conditions covering the plans, materials, fencing, planting, ecology and protection of planting for ten years.

“That Members GRANT planning permission subject to the following conditions, and any additional conditions as considered necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:”

“Time limit • Approved plans • Materials to be agreed • Details of fencing and gates to be agreed • Planting scheme to be agreed • Planting protected for 10 years • Planting implemented within 6 months of creation of bund • Ecology conditions…”

Minutes