Plans to erect a new private quayside, along with pontoon and innovative wave breaker have attracted objections from the RSPB, which protects birdlife on the foreshore it owns.

Mr Mac Khan, from 9 and 10 Rose Farm Cottages in a secluded area of Shotley, also known at the Brickyards, wants to erect the dock and shoreline protection, in order to provide berthing for three small vessels and protect the frontage of the houses in that area.

In a report to Babergh district council planners, the agent for Mr Khan outlined the mitigation he has taken to ensure any disruption to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the River Stour is general is minimised.

Barge and boardwalk Rose Farm Cottages (Picture: Nub News)

The RSPB initially objected to the application as it was concerned the improvements may have an impact outside the development boundary and in particular on their land.

In a statement as consultees the RSPB said: "The Planning, Design and Access Statement (section 6.35) states that "the site presents no ecological concern."

"The RSPB note that the application site sits within and adjacent to the internationally designated Stour and Orwell Estuaries SPA and Ramsar site, and the nationally designated Stour Estuary SSSI. These sites are designated for their significant populations of water birds which use the estuary for feeding and roosting. 

"The RSPB considers that the proposal could result in multiple impact pathways on these designated sites and features, including: 

i. Direct loss of habitat potentially supporting SPA and Ramsar feature species; 

ii. Visual and noise disturbance to feature species from construction activity

iii. Dredging of material potentially affecting supporting habitats, and; 

iv. An increase in recreational activity causing disturbance to designated features.

"We do not therefore agree with the statement of no ecological concern. We do not believe that the shadow Habitat Regulations Assessment has adequately identified the potential impacts. Without this evidence, the Council as the competent authority will not be able to complete a Habitats Regulations Assessment in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) ("the Habitats Regulations") and therefore the application should not be considered in its current form."

However, the applicant has agreed to move the changes further away from the designated RSPB feeding grounds, that there would be no dredging, improve the landscaping  

The owners have posted a Public Notice with all the technical details here...

The planning application for improvements to the slipway can be found on the Babergh planning portal here... Using reference number DC/22/05630