Historic parks and gardens are characteristic features of east and west Suffolk – either side of the High Suffolk clay plateau. This reflected the position of the largest landed estates - including in the Suffolk Sandlings - and also their geographical distribution along the historic route between Ipswich and Great Yarmouth. These parks were construed as primarily an aesthetic landscape – an irregular, ‘naturalistic’ setting of grass, trees and woodland around a big house. Parks were expressions of status and wealth, marking out the owner as a member of the landed elite.
The historic parks and gardens are on East Suffolk Council’s Local List are:
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View on our online map of Parks and Gardens
Inclusion of an historic park and garden on the Local List ensures that, as an identified Non-Designated Heritage Asset, relevant policies in the Local Plans and in the National Planning Policy Framework can be applied for their protection.
Inclusion of an historic park and garden on the Local List ensures that, as an identified Non-Designated Heritage Asset, relevant policies in the Local Plans and in the National Planning Policy Framework can be applied for their protection.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in its Glossary identifies heritage assets as, amongst other things, sites, places, areas or landscapes having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of their heritage interest. It goes on to state that such assets can be identified by the local planning authority, including those on a Local List. Such a list will consist of heritage assets of local significance (only) and which will be described as Non-Designated Heritage Assets, meaning that these assets are identified by the local planning authority. Paragraph 203 of the NPPF sets out the planning test for applications relating to Non-Designated Heritage Assets.
The relevant policy in the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan (2020) is Policy SCLP11.8 (Parks and Gardens of Historic or Landscape Interest), this applies to all Locally Listed parks and gardens within the former Suffolk Coastal area. Paragraph 11.45 of the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan (p195) states that the “Council will keep the list of locally identified Historic Parks and Gardens under review and will designate further Historic Parks and Gardens where this is considered appropriate.”
There is no specific policy relating to historic parks and gardens in the Waveney Local Plan, however Policies WLP8.37 (Historic Environment) and WLP8.38 (Non-Designated Heritage Assets) apply to Locally Listed Parks and Gardens that are situated in the former Waveney area.
SPG 6 – Historic Parks and Gardens (former Suffolk Coastal area) – December 1995
NOTE: While this guidance has been withdrawn the information contained within it about each historic park and garden is still relevant.
East Suffolk Council Local List – Historic Parks and Gardens (former Waveney area) – February 2022