Landguard Lodge in Felixstowe saved from demolition

East Suffolk Council met on Tuesday to discuss plans to demolish Landguard Lodge in Felixstowe. 

Plans to demolish the building to make way for additional holiday accommodation and enable the expansion of Park Holidays' Suffolk Sands Holiday Park were submitted to the council in September.

However, the plans were halted after East Suffolk Council issued an Article 4 Direction which limits the work that can be done without needing planning permission from the authority.

Landguard Lodge in Felixstowe (Image: Charlotte Bond)

On Tuesday, East Suffolk Council strategic planning committee met for an extraordinary meeting to discuss whether to confirm the Article 4 Direction or let it cease on March 27 meaning demolition plans would have been able to go ahead. 

During the meeting, the council unanimously confirmed the Article 4 Direction which means the building now cannot be demolished without first seeking planning permission. 

Councillor Mike Deacon described the building as "iconic". 

He said: "The word iconic in my opinion is used to often in planning, but I really do think this building to us living in Felixstowe is iconic.

Felixstowe councillor Mike Deacon (Image: Newsquest)

"We can see it has got historic links to the town and it is a part of the town we are hoping to make a destination attraction.

"I think it would have been a tragedy if it had been lost."

The original application submitted by Park Holidays UK Ltd received more than 60 objections from local people. 

The Felixstowe Society previously said it "strongly" objected to the proposal. 

In a statement, it said: "The Felixstowe Society considers that these buildings are important as they contribute to the character and setting of the area."

The Society believed the building should be the subject of a building preservation notice.