Ex-navy base plans to be discussed after objections

Plans for a derelict historic naval site will be discussed after more than 100 objections were made.

Haylink Limited's plans for the former HMS Ganges naval training base in Shotley Gate near Ipswich, Suffolk, will be reviewed by Babergh District Council next Wednesday.

Plans were approved in 2015 to build a number of new homes on the site, which the developer now wants to increase. It also wants to add 75 extra care apartments under its care home proposal.

While the amended plans have been recommended for approval by planning officers, concerns have been raised around an increase in traffic and extra strain on existing community facilities.

HMS Ganges was a training centre for naval recruits from 1905 until its closure in 1976.

For years, it has been the subject of much debate and was last used as a police training base until 2001.

Numerous developers have attempted to take on the site for redevelopment before the initial plans were approved 10 years ago.

The first phase of the original plans was already being delivered with 40 homes now occupied on the site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Haylink now wanted to increase the number of homes from 285 to 303, while the extra 75 care apartments would be spread over five blocks.

It also wanted to demolish several more buildings, due to their poor state, while others could be repurposed. For example, it wants to transform the swimming pool building into an indoor recreation space and gym.

The plans received strong local backlash, however, with objections submitted by numerous parish councils as well as 123 letters from residents.

Some residents raised concerns about traffic and the potential strain on community services, while others worried about the removal of the previously agreed-upon spine road.

The road was meant to run across the site, which connects the B1456 Bristol Hill to King Edward VII Drive - instead, Haylink now proposed a pedestrian and cycle connection.

The planning officer's report said the spine road was not considered a 'fundamental change' and pointed out the spine road could not form a highways objection as it was not required to make the development acceptable.

Extra traffic impacts from the changes have been considered 'imperceptible' by the planning officer compared to those created by the initial plans.

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