16-bedroom hotel at Cockfield Hall Station Road, Yoxford, Saxmundham

“3.Proposal 3.1.The proposal is for the works required for the conversion of Cockfield Hall to a hotel use, including 16 bedrooms and a restaurant. 3.2.Proposed works include the restoration and upgrading of the existing building.”

“The Parish Council Representative said she was a recently retired professor of hotel and resort management. She asked that the application was deferred as the proposed use did not fall within a C1 hotel classification as stated and the material impacts for the actual use had not been properly assessed.”

“Councillor Hammond asked the representative to expand on her view that it was not a hotel, he asked where that assumption was from. She replied that they got that assumption from the number of events talked about, the number of guests, the size of the property and other properties where you could only hire the whole house. There was no evidence it would be available to book per night like a hotel should be. All the evidence pointed to it being an events and wedding venue.”

“Councillor Ashton added that the walking/cycling route between the village and the hotel should be a condition of this application. Although it hadn’t been mentioned he said it was the intention that the guests of the hotel and wider estate would use the Griffin. There would be reason for residents and guests to move in both directions, therefore the application shouldn’t be approved without that walking/cycling route.”

“The Planning Manager said he understood the noise concerns. The noise impact assessments had been carried out by competent qualified professionals based on best practice. He accepted that the noise impact could be mitigated subject to an appropriately detailed noise management plan and that was the standard way of working, with the conditions flowing from the report.”

“That the application be DEFERRED to consider the noise management plan and the footpath. 3 members were for this proposal and 5 against, therefore the motion for deferral failed.”

“The Committee returned to the proposal as per the officer’s recommendation in the report.”

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the completion of a S106 legal agreement and subject to the conditions listed below: Conditions: The development hereby permitted shall be begun within a period of three years beginning with the date of this permission.”

“Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to what has been considered and approved. 10”