The breach of planning conditions by a contractor working on the F-35A RAF Lakenheath construction has led to possible legal actions.
- Carvel Project Management failed to submit a required decommissioning plan for a site in Breckland SPA.
- West Suffolk Council issued a breach of condition notice, mandating work cessation by 31st August.
- Restoration must occur outside the stone curlew nesting season, showing wildlife protection priorities.
- Local council members support the enforcement action, highlighting the seriousness of planning compliance.
Carvel Project Management, involved in the F-35A RAF Lakenheath construction project, has come under scrutiny following its failure to adhere to specified planning conditions. The firm was obliged to transform a temporary work site back to its original agricultural state, yet neglected to provide necessary plans for decommissioning within the stipulated timeline. Despite verbal reminders from West Suffolk Council, compliance was not achieved, prompting further action.
The focal point of this issue is a site located within the Breckland Special Protected Area, a designated region for conserving species such as the stone curlew. Despite being granted temporary building rights for auxiliary constructions related to the F-35A undertaking, Carvel Project Management continued using the plot post-expiration of its planning permission on 10th June 2023, and submitted a late bid to amend conditions.
West Suffolk Council has duly issued a breach of condition notice, enforcing an immediate halt to activities by 31st August. The order further instructs deconstruction and ecological restoration activities to be conducted between October 2024 and April 2025, aligning with the non-nesting months for the stone curlews. Importantly, the notice precludes any avenues for appeal, underscoring the council’s firm stance on this matter.
Councillor Jim Thorndyke, responsible for planning at West Suffolk Council, remarked on the completion of the F-35A project and emphasized the importance of returning the space to its original state, given its environmental significance. The enforcement measures reflect the council’s unyielding position on planning adherence, as they seek to reinstate ecological sanctity in the area.
The response from Councillor Victor Lukaniuk, representing the Brandon Town West ward, echoed community sentiments regarding the inappropriate transformation of a protected habitat into storage grounds for heavy vehicles. He reiterated that the temporary nature of the site’s use had been exceeded, thus advocating for prompt rectification and reversion to its prior condition.
The enforcement action by West Suffolk Council marks a decisive move to uphold planning conditions and protect sensitive ecological areas.
