Hacheston Parish Council will be holding an Extraordinary Meeting this Wednesday at 7pm, primarily to discuss the revised planning application for the land at Bloomville Hall.

We are also arranging a meeting with representatives from Balance Power to discuss their upcoming planning application for a 50MW battery energy storage facility near the substation opposite Garnetts Gardens. This initial meeting will be a closed session for Parish Councillors only. However, if you have any questions or concerns you’d like us to raise on your behalf, please do let us know.

Looking ahead, our next full Parish Council meeting will take place at 7pm on Tuesday 16th July. Representatives from Grupotec will be attending to speak about their proposed solar farm on land south of Easton Lane, within the Glevering Estate. This planning application is expected to be submitted in July. There was a strong turnout at the public consultation back in March and residents are to attend this meeting too- there will be an opportunity to ask questions during the public forum at the start of the meeting. Comments will be limited to 3 minutes per person. 

Understanding Material Planning Considerations

We’d like to remind residents that when assessing planning applications, the local planning authority, East Suffolk Council, can only take into account material planning considerations. These are matters that can affect the broader community, not just individual preferences. Examples of material planning considerations include:

• Layout and density of development

• Design, appearance, and materials

• Overlooking or loss of privacy

• Loss of light or overshadowing

• Parking provision and highway safety

• Traffic impact and noise

• Land contamination, smells, or fumes

There are several common concerns that cannot be taken into account when deciding planning applications. These include:

• Perceived loss of property value

• Loss of a private view

• Boundary disputes

• Ownership of the site

• Breaches of restrictive covenants

• Personal opinions about the applicant

It is worth noting that the number of objections or expressions of support is not a material consideration in itself. However, if those views relate to valid planning issues - such as those listed above - they will be considered as part of the decision-making process.

We hope this helps clarify how planning responses are assessed and the scope of how the Parish Council can respond to applications.

 Hacheston Parish Council