EXPERTS today claimed less homes may be needed for the future than the numbers proposed for east Ipswich and the Felixstowe area.Planners say 4,020 new homes are required by 2024 - mostly to cater the for existing population's needs with people living longer, more marriage break-ups, people choosing to live on their own, and for the children of families in the area.

EXPERTS today claimed less homes may be needed for the future than the numbers proposed for east Ipswich and the Felixstowe area.

Planners say 4,020 new homes are required by 2024 - mostly to cater the for existing population's needs with people living longer, more marriage break-ups, people choosing to live on their own, and for the children of families in the area.

But the Suffolk Preservation Society believes the plans, especially to build 510 new houses every year between 2021 and 2024, could lead to unnecessary loss of greenfield land.

Society director Richard Ward said: “We do not believe this consultation looks at other options that may be available in this three-year period or the ability of the environment to accommodate this level of growth.

“In our view it should be possible to start planning for a reduction in housing building in the district by 2021 to be more compatible with local need and environmental capacity of the area.

“Such a move would also be more consistent, we suspect, with the aspirations of local people and communities.

“It would not be unreasonable to reduce the number of houses being built each year to around 340, a reduction of 510 within the three-year period.

“We ask the council to consider these issues to reduce the number of houses being built and the amount of greenfield land being taken for development.”

The group says there is an estimated 8,000 empty homes in Suffolk, which could be used to address the issue of over development.

Mr Ward said: “It is not unreasonable to assume that between 500 to 1,000 dwellings are empty in the Suffolk Coastal area.”

The society has told Suffolk Coastal council it feels some of the plans outlined in the consultation document are unrealistic, particularly developments in the Trimley areas.

“We consider the proposed development at the Trimleys to be against one of the fundamentals of the planning system, which is to stop the amalgamation of separate villages,” said Mr Ward.

“We believe the approach to future housing growth should be to build for local need, within environmental limits and capacities and with the support of communities.”

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