FELIXSTOWE/TRIMLEY: People in Felixstowe will next week have the opportunity to put their views to town councillors over the number of new homes they believe should be built in the next 25 years.

Suffolk Coastal has suggested new figures and appears to have ruled out building on the northern edge of the resort.

Fields in Old Felixstowe and Walton would be taken, with half the homes being put in the twin Trimley villages. However, campaigners are not convinced – and believe more land will be needed to build the numbers still being proposed.

Felixstowe Town Council is holding a special meeting on Tuesday at 7pm at Orwell High School to discuss the situation.

Officials confirmed there would be a time of public speaking at the start to allow residents to give their views before councillors debate and come to a formal conclusion on how many homes should be provided by 2027.

At Trimley, both parish councils will discuss the situation, but campaign group STAG – Save Trimley Against Growth – is seeking a meeting with Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey.

STAG spokesman Ian Cowan does not agree with the forecast population growth. “Natural population changes – such as changes in birth and death rates, the incidence of divorce, etc – evolve very slowly over a considerable period of time,” he said. “It is also true that the real and only need for substantial numbers of new homes is because of net migration.”

Suffolk Coastal says the district needs new homes because fewer people on average are living in each house due to divorce, separation, and people choosing to live alone, while people are living longer, and the population is increasing.

The council is suggesting 446 homes a year should be constructed – 64 fewer than the now-abolished regional targets. The proposal is for 7,590 homes between now and 2027.

Andy Smith, deputy council leader, said the figure was still well below the average 609 homes built annually since 1971.

“An independent review that we requested has suggested we could actually need 610 a year, but with all the economic uncertainties and local concerns about where space for new homes can be found, we think that 446 a year is both sensible and achievable,” he said.

n People can comment at www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourcouncil/haveyoursay or write to Development Policy, Suffolk Coastal, Melton Hill, Woodbridge IP12 1AU, by January 23