'Delighted': Queensbury Lodge in Newmarket to be restored

Queensbury Lodge, Queensbury Cottage and stables in Newmarket High Street have been at the heart of a more than 30-year dispute between the council and its owners, leading the properties to fall into disrepair.

In 2020, a report handed to West Suffolk Council found that parts of the property were in danger of collapsing into the road and posing a danger to public safety.

The council then stepped in to prevent the Grade II-listed buildings from further deterioration with urgent works to waterproof and support the property.

Queensbury Lodge in 2015 was in a state of disrepair (Image: Archant) On Friday, a scheme for the restoration of the site was agreed upon and planning approval for works was approved on behalf of developers Unex Group.

Unex Group has been told it must restore the lodge before it begins the planned construction of 123 nearby homes, which was approved last year.

Councillor Indy Wijenayaka, cabinet member for growth at the council, said: “This is fantastic news, and my hope is that we won’t have to wait long to see work begin to deliver this restoration at long last,” he said.

“For too long these Grade II-listed buildings have stood derelict and neglected, an eyesore at one of the very gateways into Newmarket High Street. The people and businesses of Newmarket deserve better.

The agreement is intended to see Queensbury Lodge restored to its former glory (Image: Archant)“It is my hope, as I know it is Unex’s, that this positive approach will continue with the owners starting work on this restoration in the very near future to improve this gateway into Newmarket for the benefit of the residents and businesses in the town.

“It continues to be my belief that by working with businesses such as Unex and overcoming barriers together, we will better support economic resilience and to help our communities thrive."

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Councillor Jim Thorndyke, cabinet member for planning, said: “I am delighted with today’s decision and hope to see the owners progress the scheme soon. “Our ambition has always been for the restoration of the Queensbury Lodge Yard.”

“It is why we stepped in to carry out works under an Urgent Works Notice in November 2020 to ensure the buildings were weather-tight and safe from collapse, preventing them from further deterioration.”

Cllr Jim Thorndyke, West Suffolk Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning (Image: Phil Morley) “It’s why, following on from the planning inspector’s decision in August last year, we have been working with the listed building specialists Unex appointed in November to give them the appropriate advice and support so that applications for the restoration could come forward.”