Permission has been granted for a new family home to be built on a decrepit site along the main Shotley to Chelmondiston road.

Babergh officers had previously rejected plans to build four houses homes on the controversial Farmside site along the B1456.

A fresh application, made in December, was for a much smaller development with just one one and half storey home propped to replace the current building which will be demolished.

Officers used delegated powers to grant permission to the applicants Andrew Chittock and Lauren Meredith, after no objections were made.

Independent Babergh councillor Derek Davis, whose Ganges ward takes in the Farmside site, welcomed the new development, which he believes will enhance the area.

"Through no particular fault of anyone in particular, the old Farmside house and plot had become quite an eyesore," said Cllr Davis. "This new design for a replacement home will be far easier on the eye once completed and a good addition to an outer part of the village.

"I can envisage this being quite project but I wish the new owners every success and I'm sure they will welcomed by their relative close neighbours and enjoy their new home in Shotley."

The new house will be required to include a vehicle charging point and external listing will be monitored to take into account protecting the nearby Suffolk Coast and Heath AONB landscape.

Farmside was originally built by the War Department (now the MoD) and was used as a balloon defence battery to deter German bombers during World War Two.

More details can be found on the Babergh panning website here: Reference DC/21/06150.

Wartime prefab controversy

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