Borough set to reject new homes
Proposals for more than 1,000 homes, a school and health centre on part of Ipswich's northern fringe look set to be rejected tomorrow by the borough on the grounds they are premature.
IPSWICH: Proposals for more than 1,000 homes, a school and health centre on part of Ipswich's northern fringe look set to be rejected tomorrow by the borough on the grounds they are premature.
Hundreds of objections have been received after Mersea Homes lodged an application to develop land south of the railway line at Westerfield.
The borough council last month approved a revised development framework which will guide planning issues in Ipswich until 2031. This envisages up to 5,400 homes being built on the northern fringe, but not before 2015
The framework has been put out to public and must then be sanctioned by the Government following a detailed public inquiry.
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The borough planning and development control committee meets tomorrow to discuss the Mersea Homes application, but officers are recommending rejection.
Up to 1,085 two, three and four bed homes would be built, 30per cent of which would be affordable, as well as shops, community, and healthcare facilities, and land reserved for a primary school.
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“The application would result in isolated, piecemeal development,” said Russell Williams, head of planning, transport and regeneration, who added that a masterplan is needed for the whole of the northern fringe, including what future education facilities will be required
Mr Williams stressed that there is insufficient capacity at the Cliff Quay sewage works to cater for the development, no assessment has been made of additional traffic and travel needs, the number of affordable homes falls short of the 35pc requirement, and provides no replacement playing fields for those which would ploughed up for the new housing.
Among issues raised by local residents are the loss of the Green Belt, unacceptable encroachment into the countryside, increased traffic on Westerfield Road and Chelsworth Avenue, and the “immense scale” of the development.
Westerfield parish council has objected on the grounds that the village would become part of a greater Ipswich if these homes were built so close to the railway.
The committee will meet at IP City Centre, Bath Street, at 9.30am
