66-bed care home at Truckeast Limited, Stowmarket

The site and surroundings

The former vehicle depot is vacant, lies within Stowmarket, and is near a primary school, police station, health centre and residential areas.

“Site and Surroundings 2.1 The application site is located within the town of Stowmarket. The site consists of the former Truck East depot. It is located to the western side of Violet Hill Road. Chilton Community Primary School is noted to the immediate north of the site and the police station and Stow Heath Centre are both noted on the eastern side of Violet Hill Road.”

“The site does not contain any listed buildings. Evelyn Fison House is a Grade II listed building located on the other side of Violet Hill Road behind the police station. It is not located within any conservation area. A path lies to the west of the site which provides access to Chilton Community Primary School; however, this is a permissive path and not a public right of way.”

Officer report

Earlier planning decisions

An earlier application approved up to 65 homes on the site, followed by approval of some related condition details.

“REF: DC/22/06379 Application for Outline Planning Permission (Access points to be considered, Appearance, Layout, Landscaping and Scale to be Reserved) Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) - Erection of up to 65No. dwellings, including up to 22No affordable units, and construction of new vehicular access (following demolition of existing buildings). DECISION: GTD 26.10.2023”

“REF: DC/24/00643 Discharge of Conditions Application for DC/22/06379 - Condition 4 (Phasing Plan), Condition 5 (Scheme of Demolition) and Condition 17 - Part h (Details of a Construction Surface Water Management Plan during demolition) DECISION: GTD 28.03.2024”

Officer report

Consultation and representations

The town council raised no objection subject to safeguards, technical objections were removed, and no neighbouring representations were received.

“Town Council Responses Stowmarket Town Council Comments Received - 17/04/2025 No objection subject to mitigation to control potential flood risk and land contamination issues onsite.”

“SUMMARY OF REPRESENTATIONS No representations were received from neighbouring properties in response to the application at the time of writing this report. Any updates to representations shall be reported to Members in their Tabled Papers or verbally at the meeting. All individual representations are counted and considered. Repeated and/or additional communication from a single individual will be counted as one representation.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The case officer introduced the application, the applicant answered members’ questions, and Councillor Carter was considered as ward member but did not participate in debate or voting.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed the need for the care home, toilet facilities, parking, emergency access, dementia-friendly design, travel arrangements and cycle parking.

“The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: access and parking plans for emergency vehicles, the consideration given to dementia friendly design, the proposed travel and parking plans, the cycle parking provision, the adequacy of the parking provision, and the location and distance from the development of bus stops in the area.”

“Members considered the representation from Ward Member Councillor Carter. Members debated the application on issues including: the need for a development of this type in the area, the provision of toilet facilities, and the adequacy of the parking provision.”

Minutes

The vote

Councillor Hardingham proposed approval with visitor cycle parking as an additional condition, Councillor Lawrence seconded it, and five members supported it with one abstention.

“Councillor Hardingham proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the Officer recommendation and with the additional condition relating to visitor cycle parking.”

“Councillor Lawrence seconded the proposal.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Permission was granted subject to resolving the biodiversity metric, financial obligations, conditions, informatives and the additional visitor cycle parking condition.

“That authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer to resolve the biodiversity metric, and subject to this, to GRANT planning permission subject to the following obligations, conditions and informatives and any others as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:”

“Time limit for commencement • Development to accord with approved plans • External materials to be agreed • Visibility splays to access • Access to site to be provided first within development • Details of internal roads and footpaths • Internal roads and footpaths to be provided prior to occupation • Parking and EV charging to be provided as shown • Mobility vehicle parking area to be provided • Cycle parking to be provided • Bins – storage and presentation areas to be…”

Minutes