Anger over plan for homes on estate's open spaces

A planning application for 52 homes on four open spaces on an existing estate has met with objections from residents.

The application by Lord’s Walk Sarl is for sites off Earlsfield Road and Maple, Myrtle and Apple Closes on the Lord’s Walk estate next to RAF Lakenheath.

The applicants’ agents Patterson Design say: “The overall appearance of the proposed dwellings, is to be harmonious with the existing houses whilst being new constructions.”

The design statement adds: “There is a pressing requirement for new housing of the proposed type within the Lakenheath environs as demonstrated by recent sale demand for the refurbished houses and these proposals will play their own small part in addressing this need without causing any concerns with regards to overdevelopment.”

But a week after appearing on the West Suffolk Planning Portal website, six estate residents had written to complain, all citing the loss of public open space.

Lucy Harding of Lancewood Walk, wrote: “One thing that is lovely about Lords walk is when you drive in to a non-built-up area where no one is living on top of each other.... and you want to take green space where children play, dog walkers take there pooches, people use to relax and [hold] community events to put more houses.”

Two residents questioned the need for the houses saying there were many empty renovated homes there.

The application is at https://planning.westsuffolk.gov.uk