Nick Timothy MP has raised the planning application for a bio-digestion plant near Haverhill and Withersfield with a minister in Parliament — pointing out that its approval could worsen the risk of flooding.
He asked a question about the application in the House of Commons chamber on Thursday 8 May 2025. The responding minister was Emma Hardy, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding.
In response, the minister noted that the National Planning Policy Framework means development should not take place without good reason on land at risk of flooding. To watch the question, and the response, please click here.
Mr Timothy’s intervention comes after a flooding officer made a submission to Suffolk County Council’s Development and Control committee recommending approval of the application, subject to surface water drainage conditions.
Mr Timothy wrote to Suffolk County Council on 29 April 2025 to object to this submission — to read his letter please click here and go to Note 2). And, in February, the Environment Agency (EA) objected to the application on the basis that the applicant failed to satisfy concerns about worsening flood risks — to read the EA’s objection, please click here and go to Note 3.
Concerns have been underlined by a letter — dated 1994 — from Savills, which acted as agents for the owners of the Spring Grove Farm site, confirming a ‘problem’ of flooding there.
Commenting, Mr Timothy said: “I raised this in Parliament because it is so important for the people of Haverhill that we don’t have development which worsens the quality of life. Haverhill is a wonderful place and doesn’t deserve to be blighted by something that is wrong for our area.
“Putting this plant at Spring Grove Farm risks worsening the danger of flooding. That is reason enough for the rejecting the proposal.
“But building it would also add to congestion and traffic safety problems on the A1307, harm our air quality and impede business investment into the town. It should be stopped in its tracks.”
Background
In March, a flooding officer made a submission to the committee recommending approval of the application, subject to certain surface water drainage conditions. It indicated that the officer does not think that the new facility will increase the flood risk to surrounding areas. To read this submission, please see below at Note 1.
However, on 29 April 2025, Mr Timothy sent a submission to SCC stating his strong objection to this submission, highlighting the fact that the application is proposed to be built in Flood Zone 3 which has the highest risk of flooding, as underpinned by historical flood records. It is because of this huge flood risk — and the devastating damage done during an incident in 1968 — that the Haverhill flood storage reservoir (see sign below) was built in the early 1970s. If you would like to read Mr Timothy’s submission, please see below at Note 2.
On 20 February, the Environment Agency (EA) made a submission which noted their objection to the application still stood on the basis that the applicant had failed to satisfy concerns about worsening flood risks. If you would like to read this objection by the EA, please see below at Note 3.
And this month, Suffolk Highways made a submission recommending the proposal be rejected because the applicant had failed to demonstrate that ‘safe and suitable access can be achieved for all users’. If you would like to read this please see below at Note 4.
This application is now scheduled to be heard before the council’s Development and Control Committee on 19 June. Acorn, the applicant, submitted new documents in January which mainly consisted of a new environmental statement. There was then a period of re-consultation which lasted until 3 March. Hundreds of residents wrote in objections to the application during the re-consultation period. See a public meeting on the application below which was held in February 2025.
Nick made a submission during this period after reading the new documents to re-state his objection. If you would like to read the submission, please click here or see below at Note 5.
