Concern over 100-home development
VILLAGERS today spoke of their concern after details of a 100-home development in Stowmarket were unveiled.An outline planning application has been submitted to create a new estate off Stowupland Road.
VILLAGERS today spoke of their concern after details of a 100-home development in Stowmarket were unveiled.
An outline planning application has been submitted to create a new estate off Stowupland Road.
It would see an overgrown area of scrubland transformed into a neighbourhood of two, three, four and five bedroom homes.
But some residents in Stowupland fear the ever-increasing sprawl of neighbouring Stowmarket could merge the village and town into one.
Only the A14 dual carriageway currently separates the two communities, with housing now either side.
Rachel Godbold, clerk of Stowupland Parish Council, said: "I know some people are very concerned that we're going to end up as a suburb of Stowmarket with all these new developments.
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"It was one of the main concerns expressed when we had our parish plan meeting. Some people in the village are worried we'll lose our identity."
The proposed development is in an area already buzzing with builders' activity, with construction of more than 100 homes currently under way.
Derek Foster, 69, has lived in Stowupland Road, Stowmarket for more than 32 years and has witnessed a rapid transformation in recent times.
He said: "There's not much you can do to stop these plans, but I would rather the land was left alone.
"We had a nice piece of arable land outside my house before and soon it will be full of houses. It seems like this is happening everywhere nowadays."
The new estate could link with the fast-growing Cedars Park development in Stowmarket.
It would include a public open space, a pond and extensive planting of shrubs and trees around the perimeter.
It is thought around ten per cent of the homes could be affordable housing, although negotiations will take between developers Bellway Estates and Mid Suffolk District Council in this respect.
The application is likely to be determined within the next two months.
What do you think of the plans? 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
