New motel at A140 junction refused over road safety concerns

Plans for a new roadside motel on the A140 near Diss have been turned down because of its potential impact on neighbours and concerns about highway safety.

The proposals would have seen the removal of three existing holiday cabins on land off Old Bury Road at Stuston, close to the busy roundabout junction between the A140 and A143, to be replaced with a new two-storey motel.

Mid Suffolk Council has now refused the plan saying the proposed building would result in a "significant dominant and oppressive impact" on neighbouring occupants and "will likely also impact local amenity in terms of actively at unsociable hours and need for lighting".

It also refused the plans because of the impact on highway safety stating: "It is not considered that sufficient information has been provided by the applicant to demonstrate that the proposed means of access to and egress from the site would be safe."

The site is next to the BP filling station and M&S Simply Food outlet, which opened in May, though work is yet to start on a drive-through McDonald's which was approved for the new service area by Mid Suffolk Council in 2018.

MORE: New A140 services open but missing McDonald'sOsiers Ltd, which also runs the neighbouring golf driving range, had been seeking outline planning permission for the motel which it said would attract both short-stay guests and longer-term tourists and "would have considerable economic benefits in creating employment and serviced tourist accommodation".

It stated: "The granting of permission for the petrol station is considered to have altered sustainability and potential of the site."

The plans had been opposed by Stuston Parish Council which raised concerns over extra traffic where motorists leaving the BP site have limited visibility and that neighbouring homes would be overlooked.

MORE: 'Not lovin' it!': 12m McDonald's sign on A140 agreed despite objectionsParish clerk Philip Gerrie said: "Whilst we appreciate that there can be benefits to locating a motel adjacent to a petrol station and fast food outlet, the actual site chosen for this particular application is completely inappropriate.

"Residents are also deeply concerned about the increased number of vehicles and pedestrians who would be accessing the motel, creating safety and amenity concerns for all users, including increased noise. In addition, it is not clear where additional vehicles would park or how motel guests would safely reach the food services on the BP site."