Action ramped up against owner of derelict site

Action against the owner of a derelict building has been ramped up as a council bids to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

Paper Mill Lane Properties Ltd (PMLP) has received a legal notice requiring it to clear up and secure the former Fisons fertiliser factory in Paper Mill Lane, Bramford, near Ipswich.

Mid Suffolk District Council has already installed CCTV at the site to deter vandalism, even though the owner is responsible for security.

Andrew Stringer, a Green councillor, said "something needs to be done". PMLP has indicated to the council that it intends to comply and work is due to start on site within weeks.

Stringer, the cabinet member for heritage planning and infrastructure, said: "For a number of years, we have shared the community's concerns about this site and have tried to work alongside the owners to find and implement solutions to a series of problems."

He said serving a formal notice was "something we usually want to avoid" but there came a time when "enough is enough".

A fire in 2019 destroyed the main Victorian factory building. It has been derelict ever since.

A council spokesperson said it had become a hub for vandalism and anti-social behaviour, which had left the site unsafe.

Under the Town and Country Planning Act, the council has now served a Section 215 Notice which requires PMLP to:

• Demolish all remaining buildings within a specified area
• Remove all building material debris arising from the demolition
• Remove all graffiti from external boundary walls and fences
• Remove all fly-tipped items
• Remove all temporary fencing and replace with permanent fences/gates to prevent unauthorised access for fly-tipping or anti-social behaviour

The notice does not include an area on site which contains listed buildings.

Unless PMLP now appeals, it has until 30 October 2027, to carry out the work, otherwise it could face a substantial fine.

The BBC has attempted to contact the company.

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