A planning application for the first part of the northern fringe development in Ipswich is about to be lodged with the borough council.

Developers Mersa Homes and CBRE are making a “hybrid” application for a large part of the new development, which will eventually extend from Henley Road to Tuddenham Road across the north of the town.

This application is for outline planning permission to build 735 homes, a new primary school, a new district centre with shops and community facilities, and some public space on land between Henley Road and Westerfield Road.

There is also a full planning application for the first 80 homes. The application indicates that up to 35% of the new homes would be “affordable.”

The application has been changed after public consultation since it was first outlined a few months ago.

The district centre has been moved further away from existing homes on Westerfield Road and new housing will be built between the existing homes and the district centre.

Detailed transport and flood risk assessments have been submitted and the response of the highways authority and Environment Agency should emerge during the consultation period.

Stuart Cock, Managing Director of Mersea Homes said: “A strong desire to deliver a development of quality, which sets a high benchmark for the further phases of development has underpinned the evolution of our planning proposal.

“The application is also accompanied by a Community Development Strategy which is a new initiative for Mersea Homes.”

He said the application includes a charter which sets out the development will try to maximise the opportunities for local employment and contractors and develop a sense of community which integrates with existing residential areas.

Local residents remain concerned about the proposals to develop the northern fringe – or the Ipswich Garden Suburb as the borough and developers now describe it.

Rod Brooks from the Northern Fringe Protection Group said: “We still consider this is premature because the full masterplan for the area has not yet been agreed.

“I am pleased to hear they have listened to residents’s concerns and put more homes between the existing houses and the shops and school.

“But we need to know how this will fit in with the full masterplan before this goes ahead – so from that point of view it is too early to be considering this.”

The application has not yet been formally lodged with the borough – but it is expected to arrive within the next few weeks.