New chapel and homes bid for Fressingfield soon

A second attempt is set to be made to get plans through to build a new Baptist chapel along with 18 homes in Fressingfield.

A previous planning bid, made by Fressingfield Baptist Church, was refused in March, for land south west of School Lane.

We’ve changed various bits and bobs so hopefully when we go in next time we will get planning permission

But chair of deacons for the church, Peter Davidson, said that a new application would be submitted within the next four weeks and would address the reasons why Mid Suffolk Council previously rejected the plans.

He said: “We’ve changed various bits and bobs so hopefully when we go in next time we will get planning permission.”

The new chapel would replace the existing one in Cratfield Road, and a statement supporting the previous application said it was needed to support a growing congregation.

Mr Davidson said issues like the heavy impact on identified woodland habitat on the site and lack of visibility for traffic turning into the site from School Lane which had contributed to the refusal, could be mitigated for.

Fressingfield Parish Council had backed the first bid, stating the village needed new homes in order to continue to thrive.

Mr Davidson said the plans would have a sports hall attached to the chapel which would be open to community use at time, and there was also a play area defined in the scheme.

Of the current chapel site, he said the church would maintain the graveyard. On the rest of the site, where the chapel is a listed building, he said: “It will be developed in any way we can get as much money for it as we can.” He said it could be redeveloped for housing.

He said money from the development potential of the existing chapel site would ultimately help finance the new chapel.

Of the 18 houses, 12 are planned to be sold on the open market, with six to be taken on for social housing.