Outline plans for a drive through facility, fuel and electric vehicle charging station and lorry park have been recommended approval.

Members of the Mid Suffolk District Council planning committee opted to defer a decision on proposals for land off the A140, in Brome, in August to consider concerns surrounding flooding. 

Following further discussions, which included a site visit, the plans have been recommended for approval ahead of a meeting next week.

The plans were submitted by Wilkinson Planning, on behalf of RH Developments (East Anglia) Ltd, in 2022. 

The service station would be located just off the A140The service station would be located just off the A140 (Image: Google Maps)It was requested that further information was provided in regards to flooding concerns. 

A flood risk and drainage water strategy assessment lodged with the council in October said while the site is shown to be at risk of surface water flooding, mitigation measures will minimise the risk to site users. 

The mitigation measures include designing a new drainage system to contain the surface water run-off.

A report which will be put in front of the committee said recommendations from the applicant show it "satisfactorily demonstrates that the proposed development is classified as ‘less vulnerable’ in flood risk terms".

Since the planning meeting in August, Essex and Suffolk Water has said it will object to the plans if it is "likely to result in an increase in mains water usage".

READ MORE: Brewery told not to expand on water usage until 2033

A moratorium is currently in operation in the area, prohibiting new non-domestic supplies. It is expected to remain in place until 2033. 

"We understand the effect of the non-domestic moratorium on businesses.  However, it is in place because Suffolk is classed as a serious water stressed area and there are increasingly tighter limits on the amount of groundwater we are able to abstract from the area," a statement said.

"However, we will work collaboratively and if we can create supply headroom through innovative demand management activities, then this could be sufficient to allow some companies, to marginally increase their mains water consumption.

"Consequently, we will keep the situation under review."

In a planning statement, the developer described the area, which sits at the corner of Eye Airfield, as a "prime commercial corridor".