FAMILIES in north Ipswich are being invited to give their views on a major new housing estate that could include a supermarket and a park.The northern fringe development has been earmarked for land between Westerfield Road and Henley Road and could include 1,500 homes, a district shopping centre and a school.

FAMILIES in north Ipswich are being invited to give their views on a major new housing estate that could include a supermarket and a park.

The northern fringe development has been earmarked for land between Westerfield Road and Henley Road and could include 1,500 homes, a district shopping centre and a school.

As well as a new supermarket to serve the north area of Ipswich, it is also possible that a new green space on a similar scale to Christchurch Park could be established.

Residents are being asked to give their views on the plans in a series of drop-in consultations that are being held at locations around Ipswich.

Ipswich council has appointed a consultancy firm in a bid to find out what people want from the development and to tailor it to their needs.

Vicki Ingleby, of the council, said: "It's a development that sparked a lot of interest when we launched it and we thought we would like to tease out the concerns of the local people.

"We want to make everybody as happy with the development as possible."

The idea of the plans is to provide the new housing estate with a range of services that would enable it to function as a community in its own right.

The development of the housing estate would also go some way to accommodating an ever-increasing demand for houses in Ipswich.

Louise Newman, of Shillam+Smith, who is carrying out the consultation, said: "We're going out to talk to people about their views and then give our findings and recommendations to the council at the end of the process."

The consultations are being held at the following times and venues:

Asda, Goddard Road, Ipswich on Thursday, May 29 from noon to 12.30pm.

Fircroft Road shops, Ipswich on Friday, May 30 from 11am to 2pm.

Victoria Nurseries, Westerfield Road, Ipswich on Friday, May 30 from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

Ipswich Cornhill, next to Debenhams, on Saturday, May 31 from 11am to 1pm.

Westerfield Village Hall on Saturday, May 31 from 2pm to 4.30pm.

What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or join the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk.