Sutton Hoo longship side letter renewed in Woodbridge

On Wednesday, Woodbridge Town Council agreed to another side letter giving The Sutton Hoo Ship Company (SHSC) permission to use the area to recreate the famous vessel in The Longshed in Tide Mill Way.

A previous three-year side letter agreement was due to expire this month, meaning the SHSC would have only been able to use 40% of the space - an outcome described by SHSC trustee Sean McMillan as an "effective eviction".

READ MORE: Replica ship may have to move from Longshed in Woodbridge

The Sutton Hoo ship is growing in size in The Longshed (Image: Saxon Ship Company) The town council owns The Longshed, but leases the site to the Woodbridge Riverside Trust (WRT), which has licenced the building to the SHSC.

However, Mr McMillan said The Longshed was built specifically for the longship's construction and the SHSC was entitled to use the whole of the building, adding the SHSC felt 'thwarted' by the current situation.

He added: "The only thing we want is for the town council to enforce the planning permission on the WRT so the WRT, as the tenants of the building, abide by the planning permission that was agreed for that building.

READ MORE: Parts of Sutton Hoo ship's home could be repurposed

"If they can be pushed, cajoled, persuaded by the town council to act within the terms of the original planning permission, everything is going to be fine and we can get on with it and that is all we have ever asked for."

The Sutton Hoo Ship Company say The Longshed was built specifically for the longship (Image: Jan Pulsford) Mr McMillan said although 75% was better than the potential 40% of floor space, the longship was growing in size as more parts were being built and therefore the SHSC would need 100% of the floor.

He added the growing number of visitors who wanted to see the 88ft long replica were being "corralled" into a smaller space and the viewing area was being increasingly 'blocked off'.

In June, the EADT revealed the WRT could be about to seek planning permission to repurpose for other activities parts of the building not being used for the ship's construction.

READ MORE: Woodbridge news

Mr McMillan said areas affected could include the viewing gallery and mezzanine floor, which had been used for choir practices, while he also believed the trust was planning to stage quizzes and musical events.

However, a spokesperson for the WRT said: "In keeping with the terms of the lease for The Longshed, Woodbridge Town Council (the owners of the building) have granted a renewal of
the original side letter to the lease, amended to allow some flexibility in how much space Woodbridge Riverside Trust can allocate to an individual project.

"In practice, this gives the SHSC at least 75% of the ground floor in which to build the replica ship. Additional space can be allocated as and when deemed necessary and by agreement."