Experts look for space for new homes

CONSULTANTS are today starting work on a project to identify where nearly 2,000 new homes could be built on the Felixstowe peninsula.

Environmental experts Entec are beginning by holding a series of workshops with parish councils, campaign groups and other interested parties to look at a range of potential sites in Felixstowe, the Trimleys and other villages.

They will then be doing in depth work on various parcels of land to see how many homes can be squeezed in.

It follows Suffolk Coastal council's decision not to build the homes needed for the future on fields on the edge of the resort and in Walton, but instead to scatter them over a larger number of smaller sites.

However, campaigners believe the work by Entec should have been done earlier before the current public consultation taking place over the Local Development Framework (LDF) plan, which also looks at sites for homes.

Carl Storer, of Save Trimley Against Growth (STAG), said he was pleased the group would be involved in the workshops being run by Entec.

“I do though think it is confusing the situation - the LDF consultation is asking for people's views on potential sites and we are concerned at what stage all this information will come together for a decision,” he said.

“If people do not comment forcefully on the LDF, will Suffolk Coastal change its mind about where the houses should go?”

Save Felixstowe Countryside, and STAG, believe only some of the homes should be placed on the Felixstowe peninsula with many more scattered across the whole of the district.

Campaigners have called for the Deben High School site and its playing fields in Garrison Lane and Langley Avenue to be included in potential sites, along with Peewit Caravan Park.

Suffolk Coastal says people have until February 20 to comment on the LDF proposals.

Where should the new homes be built in Felixstowe? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk