Since last autumn, people from outside the EU applying for a visa to join their spouse or partner now have to prove they have a basic command of English before their application is approved.
For those aged 18 to 25 years old a commentary about the artistic creation will also have to be included in the application, written in French or English.
The civic society went to English Heritage after an application to build seven houses in the orchard and other land within the Plas Wilmot estate was given outline planning permission.
Mr Clarke said the plans had been carried out with an "awful lot of pre-application discussions" with St Edmundsbury Borough Council and English Heritage.