A grandfather from Suffolk has expressed deep distress as he reports a staggering £600,000 loss in the value of his home and rental properties, attributing this decline to the recent construction of a large warehouse by retail giant The Range next to his land. Ken Lungley, 79, once enjoyed idyllic views over the countryside, but this has dramatically changed with the emergence of the colossal 1.17 million square-foot ‘megashed’, which looms over his property.

According to Lungley, this sprawling structure has significantly impacted his retirement investment, causing its worth to plummet from £1.5 million to £900,000. Adding to his woes, the local council has sanctioned the construction of an even larger warehouse nearby, which he fears will further diminish his property values. “You can’t stand in the way of progress— but not in my back garden,” he lamented in a conversation regarding the matter.

Lungley purchased an acre of land in Creeting St Peter back in 1990 for £65,000, eventually developing it into a four-bedroom home and a four-bedroom holiday rental. The latter rents for £1,500 for three nights, or £2,000 weekly, while another structure on his property features a swimming pool available for hire. Over the years, he has invested around £500,000 into the site, with the intention of passing it onto his family. However, the approval for the warehouse marked a turning point, erasing years of appreciation in property value.

While the warehouse is part of Gateway 14 Ltd, a subsidiary of Mid Suffolk District Council, its approval was granted in a landscape once dominated by farmland. The site is now poised to become one of the largest business parks in East Anglia, designed to accommodate industry growth and employment boosts. Moreover, Gateway 14 is part of the Freeport East initiative, a project aimed at attracting investment through significant tax reliefs, including discounts on business rates for eligible firms.

Despite his concerns, Lungley acknowledges that the warehouse could have been worse—”it’s only one warehouse, not ten or eleven little ones,” he stated, referring to the initial plan for multiple constructions. His sentiments echo the broader anxieties of local residents, who have raised numerous objections regarding potential traffic increases, noise pollution, and the lack of proposed green spaces in the planning applications. Although these concerns were voiced during the planning process, they ultimately did not prevent the development from moving forward.

The Range, which began operations in November 2023, is now set to benefit from significant logistical advantages that the new facility offers. The site’s Freeport East designation allows for expedited customs processes and financial incentives for businesses operating within its borders. As the region continues to develop, it promises to contribute significantly to the local economy, with projections indicating the creation of approximately 1,600 jobs associated with The Range’s operations alone.

The situation raises pressing questions about the balance between economic development and the preservation of local character and quality of life for existing residents. For Lungley, the transformation of his view from tranquil farmland to the back of a warehouse feels profoundly unsettling, leaving him to navigate the implications of these changes on both his property and his community’s landscape.

As developments continue, further changes are anticipated within and around Gateway 14, particularly with ambitions towards eco-friendly building materials and innovations in construction. However, for Lungley and his neighbours, the reality of large-scale industrialisation serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing rural communities amidst the push for economic growth.

Source: Noah Wire Services