The major redevelopment of the former Jeld Wen joinery factory with 500 new homes, employment land and provision for a new early years setting looks set to be approved.
Plans to transform the vacant Jeld Wen industrial site in Lowestoft will take a significant step forward as it is voted on this Friday.
The proposals for outline planning permission – allowing for a decision on the general principles of how a site can be developed – are being recommended for approval.
East Suffolk Council’s strategic planning committee will meet in Lowestoft to discuss a bid to demolish all of the existing on-site buildings and build 124 new apartments and 376 houses at the redundant Jeld Wen industrial site on Waveney Drive.
Proposals for just over two hectares of land for employment, as well as land for a new early years school, are earmarked along with with associated access, public open space, infrastructure and landscaping – including provision for a pedestrian and cycle link.
No affordable homes have been proposed due to the costs associated with clearing out the site, which has lain empty since 2010.
The vacant 14.2-hectare (35.088 acres) brownfield site is owned by Birmingham-based investment company Statuslist Limited.
A scheme was lodged in July last year with East Suffolk Council by development consultancy, Pegasus Group, with the plans amended earlier this year.
According to documents, the Gross Development Value (GDV) of the site – the estimated total market value of a property development once it is completed – is earmarked at £153m.
SITE HISTORY
After opening as a joinery factory and timber yard in 1962, it was run by Boulton and Paul before being purchased by Jeld-Wen UK Ltd in 1999.
The American-owned timber company Jeld Wen closed the joinery factory in June 2010 – bringing an end to nearly 50 years of production on the site – with the loss of more than 190 jobs.
It has been vacant since then and has increasingly fallen into disrepair – despite forming part of an area around Lake Lothing earmarked for a major transformation.
The developers would have to spend some £115 million clearing out the existing factory buildings and carrying out the development.
Assessing the plans, officers said the redevelopment of the site, removal of the existing industrial buildings and sheds, and remediation “will benefit the community.”
Documents said: “Regular complaints in the locality have raised the local anxiety over perceived risks of asbestos in buildings on the site, especially where there has been anti-social behaviour, trespass and arson taking place.”
REDEVELOPMENT
The plans earmark a scale of development of “up to four storeys” in the residential area and “up to 15m” for the employment area.
However flooding concerns have been raised – with the potential for homes to be flooded during a one-in-1000-year tidal event.
Lowestoft Town Council said the flood risk is not outweighed by the benefits and objected to the plans.
Concerns were raised by five other locals, with one submitted letter of support.
Documents said: “Substantial weight is given to the redevelopment of this allocated vacant brownfield site which is a focus of residential development for Lowestoft and East Suffolk.
“This would see it remediated from its current despoiled, degraded, derelict and contaminated condition.
“Without a residential component adding viability, the site is likely to sit derelict as it has done for more than ten years, with no prospect of an alternative use.”
The council report said land would be raised to protect higher-risk areas from flooding during lesser tidal events, while measures would be put in place to keep the early years school dry at all times.
The plans are recommended for approval, subject to a list of 41 conditions.