Great Finborough residents concern at school expansion plan

People living in Great Finborough, near Stowmarket, have voiced their concerns in response to plans submitted by Finborough School.

The proposals lodged with Mid Suffolk District Council involve building on land currently owned by Stowmarket Golf Club, adjacent to St Andrew's Church. 

The school has lodged proposals to build on land currently owned by Stowmarket Golf Club (Image: Google Earth) However, residents in the village believe the development will have an impact on the surrounding countryside.

One objection said: "The permanent change to the landscape would be an enormous loss to the local community and beyond."

Another objector said the development was an "intrinsic part of the beautiful countryside that surrounds the village."

A statement of need by the school said the additional teaching rooms and boarding house will allow for "further growth in pupil numbers" and "provide a greater range of facilities for the students' continued development".

"There will be no significant loss of the parkland features, structures or trees that are so important to the character of the school setting," a landscape and visual appraisal said. 

It also notes that although the development "will result in notable adverse impacts to both landscape and visual receptors" in the first year, these will decrease over time. 

Concerns have also been raised in regards to the Grade II listed St Andrew's Church. 

"Great Finborough church is set in an extremely peaceful and beautiful area where members of our community go for times of reflection and peace," said one person. 

"The proposed development would be extremely intrusive and detrimental to the characteristics of this site."

Another said: "Any expansion of the school campus on to this land, together with the proposed development and any potential future development, will have a significant impact on the setting of the church."

For more information about planning notices visit the Public Notice Portal