On 23 May members of the parish Council and Richard Ward, Director of Suffolk Preservation Society met with Phil Roberts and Martin Roat Directors of Galliard Homes, their planning consultant and two architects from the Clague practice who have been commissioned to bring forward designs for the site.

The developers intend to submit four planning applications to Babergh District Council:

• An application for a “Certificate of Lawful Development” confirming that the site is a residential training establishment and if granted no further planning application would be required to bring it back into use for this purpose. This application has been submitted and the response of the Parish Council can be seen here

• A “Reserved Matters Application” for the 404 dwelling “retirement community.” This would include detailed designs and descriptions of the buildings, roads and services and would also need to be accompanied by an Environmental Statement proposing mitigation and/or compensation measures for any adverse impact the development may have on local services, infrastructure and natural environment.

• A fresh planning application for a residential and mixed use development that the developers hope will meet the objections to their last proposal that were upheld by the Inspector at the inquiry and endorsed by the Secretary of State. This application would also require an Environmental Statement.

• A new application for the construction of an access road diagonally across the site to the marina. This application may also require an Environmental Statement. If this road were granted permission it may allow the Marina to build the 150 homes for which they currently have permission without improving and upgrading King Edward VII Drive . The Council is currently seeking clarification on these two matters.

Other matters discussed included:

• Shotley Parish Council will approach the other parishes in the area to discuss their preferred method of becoming involved in future consultations with the developer.

• Galliard will provide to Shotley Parish Council copies of the question(s) put to their Counsel and Counsel's opinion on the Reserved Matters issue

• SPC will give further consideration to and make proposals on consulting with the public

• SPC to collate their ideas and aspirations for the site and Galliard will give further consideration to those documents already provided and seek clarification or further details if required. This will be without prejudice to any formal response to any future duly made planning application and/or consideration of any amelioration or compensatory measures arising from them.

• SPC to arrange a site visit accompanied by the architect

• Galliard to provide SPC with a copy of the protected species survey.