PROPOSALS to merge and treble the size of the Trimleys with 3,000 new homes will be "reviewed and judged on their own merits", planners said today.But they warned that Trinity College's suggestions for a long-term and comprehensive development of the historic villages might not be the only vision which comes forward for their future.

PROPOSALS to merge and treble the size of the Trimleys with 3,000 new homes will be "reviewed and judged on their own merits", planners said today.

But they warned that Trinity College's suggestions for a long-term and comprehensive development of the historic villages might not be the only vision which comes forward for their future.

Tonight The Evening Star launches "Fight for the Trimleys" – a promise that we will keep a close eye on the development debate for the historic communities so that the best route is chosen for their future.

Many massive developments have been suggested in the past on the Felixstowe peninsula – and other landowners may have ideas of their own for new homes.

A spokesman for Suffolk Coastal confirmed that the council had received "a well-produced and ambitious set of proposals" for the future of the Trimleys.

Officers would be studying the plans but at the moment it was too early to give any views – and there would need for full consultation as well as analysis.

They would be put into the melting pot of ideas being drawn up for the new local plan and housing allocations are set to be looked at this autumn.

"It sets out a possible vision for the area drawn up on behalf of the landowners, but at this stage that is all it is, one possible vision of the future of this area," said a spokesman.

"It will be interesting to hear the views of the communities of the Trimleys and Felixstowe, and their local councils will be shortly considering them and passing on their opinions.

"This is what the lengthy and detailed Local Plan process is all about – stimulating debate, seeking fresh ideas, looking at the way ahead for the whole district and setting out how we would all like to see Suffolk Coastal grow and prosper in the future. All proposals will be reviewed and judged on their own merits."

Bidwells are promoting the ideas for Trimley St Mary and Trimley St Martin on behalf of Trinity College, Cambridge.

A glossy 30-page brochure, produced after two years of research, envisages all the spare land between the A14 and railway line filled in with as many as 3,000 homes, new shops, small-scale employment, a new school, greens, a park, plus improvements to the surrounding countryside.

The ideas were first put forward in 1968 as part of an even larger bid for development – some of which was taken up with the building of the St Martins Green and Farmlands estates.

Trinity College's vision shows how the area could be developed over the next 15 to 20 years rather than leaving it to fragmented ad hoc development which would not be good for the community.

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