New homes earmarked for former primary school site deferred

Proposals to transform the vacant former Fen Park Primary School - closed since 2013 - on Lovewell Road in Kirkley, Lowestoft, had been earmarked for approval despite concerns.

Plans centring around "Redevelopment of existing playground" with the construction of a terrace of eight homes and "Redevelopment of existing building" to create seven self contained flats and associated car parking were discussed on Tuesday.

The playground of the former Fen Park School site on Lovewell Road, Lowestoft. Picture: Andrew Middleton (Image: Andrew Middleton)

An amended scheme lodged with East Suffolk Council by agents Andrew Middleton on behalf of the applicant Michael Christophi, for Bure Buildings Ltd, was submitted earlier this year for the former school site that opened in 1898, but was closed in March 2013 as part of the reorganisation of Suffolk's education system.

With the site area measuring 0.23 hectares and 15 residential units earmarked across the whole site, the development proposes eight five-bedroom three storey houses; one one-bedroom flat; three two-bedroom flats; two three-bedroom flats and one four-bedroom flat.

However, the plans came under fire with numerous concerns raised from ward councillors as well as 16 objections from neighbours amid overdevelopment of the site and fears of "chaos and logjams" in neighbouring roads.

With planning officers recommending approval of the proposals, subject to conditions, the scheme was voted on at a meeting of East Suffolk's planning committee north in Lowestoft on Tuesday.

After a lengthy discussion, councillor Paul Ashton proposed a site visit, which was seconded by councillor Malcolm Pitchers and unanimously backed by all councillors during a vote.

It led to a decision being made to "defer for site visit".