Pakenham woman hits out at second bungalow plan for The Dell

Proposals for a new 1.5 storey bungalow following the demolition of an existing one at The Dell off The Street in Pakenham were approved last month. 

This is the second bungalow plan for the site submitted by the same applicant, Mr G Lebbon, who was granted permission from West Suffolk Council for the first plot back in 2022.

Kathryn Wolfe, who lives at The Greenwoods which backs onto The Dell, said residents in the vicinity are angered by the scale and design of the plans, which she says are not in keeping with 'modest' and 'inconspicuous' bungalows they replaced. 

Kathryn Wolfe has hit out at the plans (Image: Kathryn Wolfe)

"Now what we have is a modern, grey, ugly, 1.5 storey building that is basically a house," she said.

"Astonishingly they have approved plot two and allowed them to demolish another modest bungalow, this time in favour of one even bigger than plot one.

"It will completely change this part of the village."

Ms Wolfe, a TV consultant, said the developer has submitted a variation request on a condition on the plot one plans that stated no part of the development should be commenced until the access had been improved. 

The requested variation would see this condition changed so that the vehicular access must be improved by the time it is 'first occupied'. 

She said she feels the plot one conditions should have been fully discharged before plot two was approved. 

The access for the new bungalows (Image: Google maps)

Ms Wolfe said: "Why was this allowed in the first place, why was the second one approved an why are they happy for developers to ride roughshod over the rules? Why aren't enforcement enforcing? 

"It is bigger than just this village, this is just an example. We pay people to put in checks and balances and have a democracy and we don't feel that that has happened."

Pakenham Parish Council objected to the latest application, calling the scale and height of the building inappropriate for the site. 

The council also felt the preconditions on plot one should be met before any decision was made with plot two.

Objections were also received from others living in The Greenwoods and included concerns over the buildings being out of character to the area and issues with overlooking. 

Aerial shot of the site (Image: Google maps)

In a delegated report published on the West Suffolk Council planning portal an officer wrote: "It is respectfully acknowledged that there is an outstanding highway condition to discharge surrounding access, imposed when Plot 1 was granted. The reason for which is a delay in the water company being able to instate a water connection.

"Planning enforcement have been notified and the authority is content that a variation of condition application is currently on hand (DC/24/0604/VAR) which seeks to amend the wording of the condition to ‘prior to occupation’ rather than ‘prior to development being commenced’.

"Planning Enforcement have carried out a site visit to inspect Plot 1 and confirmation has been received that Plot 1 has been built in full accordance with the approved plans." 

A council spokesperson said: “We recognise that there are current breaches of the planning permission given. These largely relate to delays to the water connection which has meant the driveway was not finished before the other building works took place.

"The planning conditions require this to be resolved before anyone can move into the development. Officers are working closely with the developer to ensure this technical breach is resolved."

The spokesperson continued: "Decisions on planning applications are made weighing up both national and local planning policies and any issues raised by objectors that directly relate to these.

“The design, siting and relationship of the proposal to other nearby homes was carefully considered and found to be acceptable, and so the scheme was approved.”

Applicant Mr G Lebbon was approached for comment.

For more information about planning notices visit the Public Notice Portal