A proposal to create 340 touring caravan pitches in Pakefield, Suffolk, to accommodate workers involved in the Sizewell C nuclear power station project has prompted concerns about the potential long-term impact of temporary accommodation developments on East Suffolk’s tourism and planning landscape.
The application, submitted by Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, would initially provide accommodation for Sizewell C construction workers before the site is converted into a leisure destination. The proposed development would also be served by up to 25 buses.
The Pakefield proposal is one of two applications in the area that Councillor Julia Ewart has urged East Suffolk’s planning authority to consider in conjunction with one another. In Leiston, a separate proposal involving the Cakes and Ale holiday park would add 108 lodges and provide temporary accommodation for approximately 670 construction workers.
Ewart said the combination of temporary worker accommodation and proposals for expanded tourism facilities could result in a significant permanent change to the district.
“I do not want to see East Suffolk turn into a colossal caravan park simply because individual applications are considered one at a time.
“I completely understand the need to accommodate the temporary workforce associated with Sizewell C. That is not the argument I am making.
“My overriding question is therefore very straightforward: when the Sizewell workers have gone, what exactly are we left with?”
Ewart also raised concerns about Britannia Hotels, which is connected to the Pakefield proposal, referencing the chain’s ranking by Which? as the UK’s worst hotel chain for 12 consecutive years.
She said the temporary accommodation proposals could create a precedent for future changes to the sites after the Sizewell C construction workforce is no longer required.
“I am also concerned that any of these applications could, in effect, become Trojan horse applications – where a relatively specific initial proposal is approved to meet a temporary need but is then followed over time by incremental amendments, variations or extensions which gradually create something much larger and more permanent than councillors originally considered.”
Ewart has called on the planning authority to assess the cumulative impact of the applications rather than considering each proposal independently. Her concern is that a series of individually approved developments could collectively alter the planning character of East Suffolk over the longer term.
For campground, caravan park and holiday park operators, the proposals illustrate a planning consideration that can arise when sites are developed for both temporary workforce accommodation and future leisure use. A site that begins as worker accommodation may ultimately become part of the area’s tourism supply, potentially affecting the number and type of pitches, lodges or other accommodation available to visitors. How future uses are defined and controlled through planning conditions could therefore be significant for operators assessing similar development opportunities.
Sizewell C said it has a “clear and balanced accommodation strategy” intended to reduce pressure on local housing during construction and as the project reaches peak workforce levels.
A Sizewell C spokesman told the Eastern Daily Press: “We have also invested significantly in Pakefield Village, transforming chalets into high-quality accommodation for our workforce. Alongside our dedicated bus service to site, this provides workers with a comfortable place to stay while helping to remove hundreds of cars from local roads.
“When the power station is complete and we no longer require Pakefield Village, the site will remain in good condition, providing a lasting legacy for the community.
“The Cakes and Ale Holiday Park does not form part of our accommodation strategy, and we have little control over the decisions made by private landowners.
“As the Sizewell C project develops, we will continually review our accommodation requirements to ensure they meet the needs of both the project and the local community.”
The Sizewell C project is driving demand for temporary accommodation in the region as construction progresses, while local planning authorities must weigh that demand against longer-term land-use considerations. The outcome of the Pakefield and Leiston proposals could therefore have implications beyond the immediate need for worker accommodation, particularly if the sites transition into permanent leisure uses.
Britannia Hotels had been approached for comment.
