SECRETARY OF STATE APPROVES "SNOASIS" DEVELOPMENT

The Secretary of State has given her final approval to the Snoasis development at Great Blakenham, near Ipswich.

The development, on the site of a former quarry, will provide a ski centre with an indoor ski slope of nearly 400m and a drop of almost 100m, a holiday village resort and centre of winter sports excellence, together with complementary sports e.g. ice skating and bob sleighing, leisure and associated uses on a site totalling 123 hectares.

Related applications for a railway station to serve the development and a residential scheme of up to 391 units plus employment land, primary school and local centre were approved by the Secretary of State in an earlier decision letter.

The Secretary of State's initial "minded to grant" decision for Snoasis was subject to a further commitment from the applicants in relation to securing the development's energy supply from decentralised and renewable or low carbon energy and to resolution of issues raised by Natural England. Following consideration of revised proposals to address these points, the Secretary of State is now satisfied that the development can proceed.

Meyric Lewis represented Mid Suffolk District Council who supported the development. The inquiry Inspector, John Gray, recommended approval of the applications. Meyric was instructed by Bob McGeady of Kester Cunningham John, Solicitors, and called John Lawson of Lawson Planning Partnership to give the planning evidence on behalf of the Counsel in support of the proposals.