Council ambition for restoration of Queensbury Lodge is ever closer

12 Jul 2024

The Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council said the council’s ambition for the restoration of Queensbury Lodge is ever closer to finally being achieved. 

Last August saw Unex secure outline planning consent for up to 123 homes to enable the restoration of the grade II listed Queensbury Lodge and stables. That consent came with a planning condition requiring the restoration work to be completed before any of the new homes can be occupied.  

In November Unex appointed listed building specialists The Morton Partnership to work with the council to agree a specification and methodology of works for the proposed restoration of the listed buildings.

In order for the scheme to progress Unex needed to submit an application for listed building consent for the restoration work and a detailed planning application for the residential development.

Now the listed building application and a planning application that will support the restoration work have been submitted in a move welcomed by Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council.

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, said: “I am delighted that following our positive meetings aimed at giving the appropriate advice and support, Unex Group has submitted its listed building application and a planning application to support the restoration work. This is one of the first landmarks thousands of people see each day as they come into Newmarket’s High Street, and it has stood derelict for far too long. We want to see the restoration of Queensbury Lodge and stables and the news we can now consider these applications brings us ever closer to seeing that achieved at long last. 

“Officers will now be looking at the detail of these applications which will shortly go out to statutory consultation. It is my hope, as I know it is Unex’s, that this positive approach will continue and that work will start on site in the very near future, improving this gateway into Newmarket for the benefit of the residents and businesses in the town.

It is my belief that by working with businesses such as Unex and overcoming barriers together, we will be able to better support economic resilience and to help our communities thrive.”

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