New plan for a supermarket in Lakenheath

A plan to bring a supermarket to a derelict site in Lakenheath has been resurrected.

The site of the former Matthew's Garden Centre on the High Street, looping round to Dumpling Bridge Lane, was once earmarked by Tesco and planning permission for a supermarket and 13 homes was given in 2012 and 2015.

Tesco pulled out and the site has remained unused, but Parsons and Whittley has now applied as agents of Mr B Rutterford for permission to build 35 homes and four commercial units, including a smaller supermarket.

Its application for the 1.85 hectare site proposes a mix of one- to four-bedroomed houses and two-bedroomed flats for sale and rent, the supermarket, a unit that would have a 'medical', use such as a doctors' or dental surgery, and four lock-up shops.

The design statement says the previous supermarket was on the west of the site but the new plan is to have the shops closer to the High Street with public open areas based around trees covered by preservation orders.

There would also be a public open space in front of the old Matthew's shop which will be extended to house a café or restaurant with a flat above.

Houses will be in a local style while the commercial part will be more modern but designed to blend in.

The developers say a public drop-in event in April was attended by 20 people with only two concerns raised. One was about nearby properties being overlooked and the other was on the style of the supermarket's sign.