East Suffolk councillors reject home application following neighbour concerns

East Suffolk councillors have rejected an application to build a new home following neighbour and parish concerns over sunlight.

The application refers to the construction of a three-bedroom bungalow situated between Lodge Road and High Street, within Ufford’s settlement boundary.

Cllr Colin Hedglet said: “I am not strongly against a house being built on this land, however, it’s a position that gives me doubt.

“For the life of me, I can’t understand why the whole thing can’t move three metres to the right.”

The meeting follows a site visit on August 17, during which East Suffolk councillors were not convinced by the assurances provided by the applicant, noting the property was already significantly darkened as it is.

It was submitted by Aviary Developments Ltd, firstly as a two-storey house in December of last year, and was later amended into a bungalow, something Ufford Parish Council is “astonished” wasn’t made into a separate application.

Councillors spent about an hour this afternoon considering a number of concerns to do with the extent to which the bungalow would limit its neighbour’s access to sunlight.

June Leigh, the resident of the house adjacent to the site, said: “The alternative target, and various other gymnastics the applicant is having to rely on to try and justify this application in respect to daylight and sunlight, simply reinforce my view that this proposal is unreasonable.”

Ms Leigh’s concerns come despite assurances by the applicant’s agent, Matthew Jones, that the bungalow would “have low impact on the light receivable by its neighbouring properties.”

Despite this, Cllr Nigel Smith, from Ufford Parish Council, said: “”It is disappointing that the consultants have an opinion that the enjoyment of the light is not to be expected going forward.”

Mr Jones also alluded to how the plans passed the 25 degree test, designed to establish the effect a proposed building has on other properties which, he said, would “normally be the end of the matter.”

Despite the application’s rejection, councillors still showed willingness to hear future amendments to the proposal.