The site was discontinued for manufacturing in 2003. More recent plans to redevelop the site and restore the 150 year old Grade II listed North Warehouse have now lapsed. Vandalism, flytipping and arson attacks on the buildings culminated in a major fire and the loss of the North Warehouse in 2019. Following the fire a security presence was maintained and some clearance of the site was carried out. However, since Autumn last year all activity stopped and the site continues to be insecure, subject to fly tipping and has suffered a small fire. Urgent and positive action is needed from the Council to resolve these issues and for it to use the powers it has available.
Started by: Kelvin Dakin
This Babergh and Mid Suffolk E-Petition ran from 26/06/2020 to 19/01/2021 and has now finished.
135 people signed this Babergh and Mid Suffolk E-Petition.
While derelict buildings remain the responsibility of their owner, Mid Suffolk District Council is pursuing all options available to ensure the safety and visual amenity of the former Fisons site, in addition to securing appropriate future redevelopment.
Shortly after the listed building fire in May 2019, our building control team issued a counter notice to the owners under Section 81 of the Building Act 1984, outlining the need to maintain adequate security at the site.
The team remains in regular contact with the community and landowner regarding potential security concerns. In April repairs were made to the site’s perimeter fencing and gates, as a direct result of reports received by our council.
During the last 12 months two reports of small scale fly-tipping around the boundary of the site, on Paper Mill Lane, were resolved by our Public Realm team. There have been fewer reports of fly-tipping on the former factory site itself since the fire, although I am aware that the team also cleared a fridge recently.
The pandemic has slowed progress on site, with the developer advising that most of its staff have been furloughed since lockdown began last March. Unfortunately, the robust security measures implemented on site following the fire have also needed to be significantly reduced accordingly.
Due to ongoing uncertainty arising from COVID, and its subsequent restrictions, a timetable for works to resume on site is yet to be confirmed. However, positive discussions about the site’s future use continue to take place between our planning team and the developer, and the next meeting will take place soon.
It is our understanding that the demolition contractors are keen to progress works to the site’s non-listed buildings, however we have been informed that they are awaiting consent from Network Rail and cannot proceed without this.
The council is unable to enforce the completion of these works at present, as per the ‘Prior Approval’ decision (ref. DC/19/03043) issued on 24 June 2019, which allows up to five years for the demolition of these buildings.
Demolition work has already commenced on the site’s listed buildings, as works were carried out to secure the fire damaged structure and eliminate the risk of potential collapse.
Before further demolition work can occur on these listed buildings, there are conditions attached to the planning consent which must be discharged. As per the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (as amended), there is no time limit attached to the consent, meaning that the council cannot request for these works to take place within a shorter timeframe.
We appreciate concerns raised by the community about the site’s current state and have sought advice from our Legal team on the possibility of serving further Notices. This would require the site to be ‘completed’ (in terms of demolition of the remaining structures), tidied, and made secure.
Our lawyers have advised that this will not be possible under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), as this does not extend far enough for use in relation to demolition to be considered appropriate or reasonable.
Instead, any enforcement action relating to site security, or the condition of the land, must be sought via alternative legislation, which is currently being reviewed at length by the council and our legal team. This includes, but is not limited to, the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Building Act 1984.
We will also continue to work with the developer to try and reach a resolution without the need for enforcement action, which at the expense of the taxpayer, should only ever be a last resort.
Our council is committed to achieving a satisfactory outcome for the community and is currently looking into engagement options to enable feedback on the site and its potential redevelopment. I would welcome your thoughts on how best we could maintain dialogue with you so that you are better kept abreast of matters as they develop.
While we cannot control the delays to progress resulting from COVID, the future of this site remains high on the council’s agenda and we are hopeful that works will resume in 2021.