Weavers Business Centre 6 Hamlet Road Haverhill Suffolk CB9 8EE

1. 1.Policy LP24 states that in order to meet our overall employment needs over the plan period this policy seeks to protect and safeguard all employment land and existing businesses, across the district which include: a. Land designated as a general employment areas and rural employment areas. b. Sites allocated for employment purposes (including employment land as part of a mixed-use allocation). c. Land and existing businesses which are not specifically identified in the Planning and Growth, West Suffolk Council, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3YU local plan. It is recognised that there are a number of existing businesses and employment uses across the district that are not designated on the policies map that lie outside of the 129 defined general employment areas, rural employment areas and employment allocations as detailed above (category c). Proposals resulting in the loss of employment land or an existing business falling within categories a and c to an employment use which generates jobs but do not neatly fall within the employment uses set out in policy SP22, will only be permitted where the proposal complies with criteria d to h of LP24. As a minimum, evidence of 12-month marketing of the site and premises in accordance with guidance in appendix J, demonstrating that genuine attempts have been made to sell and/or let the site and premises in its existing use (or last previous use) and other suitable employment uses (where supported by the policies int he development plan) and no alternative business use has been found. The application does not contain supporting information in relation to demonstrating that there is a sufficient supply of alternative and suitable employment land available (d). It is not considered that the existing use as office accommodation has created over-riding environmental problems such that the change of use would result in a substantial environmental benefit (e). It is not considered that the change of use to a market dwelling would assist in urban regeneration and offer greater benefits to the community in meeting local business and employment needs(f). The proposed change of use is not for an employment related support facility (g) and is not related to on-site renewable energy development(h). The application has not been accompanied by evidence that the application site has been marketed in accordance with the appendix J guidance. The proposal is therefore not in accordance with the provisions of LP24 and the principle of development is not acceptable.
2. 2.Policy LP41 requires all development proposals to provide for active travel on and off site through maximising walking opportunities, promoting cycling opportunities, providing secure cycle storage and safe and suitable access to public transport. The provision of cycle storage is set out within Policy LP44 and Suffolk Guidance for Parking (2023). The submitted plans do not demonstrate cycle storage either externally or internally within the proposed dwelling. As a result of this it is considered that the development proposal would be contrary to the provisions of LP41 and LP44.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

CB9 8EE

Application type

Full Planning Application

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Haverhill Town Council

Date validated

18 November 2025

Consultation expiry

19 December 2025

Consultation start

19 January 2026

Consultation end

11 December 2025

Neighbour consultation end

15 December 2025

Target decision date

16 January 2026

Agent

Planning Direct

Agent address

The Maltings Princes Street Ipswich IP1 1SB

Statutory period

59 days

Last advertised

28 November 2025

Advertisement expiry

19 December 2025

Site notice start

21 November 2025

Site notice end

12 December 2025

Planning Portal ID

PP-14412948

Documents

27