PROPOSALS for thousands of new homes in the Suffolk Coastal area will become clearer this summer when a new draft blueprint for development of the district is unveiled.

PROPOSALS for thousands of new homes in the Suffolk Coastal area will become clearer this summer when a new draft blueprint for development of the district is unveiled.

Planners have already received several suggestions from landowners and developers about where new homes and industry should be built.

These include detailed plans from Trinity College, Cambridge, for a 1,500-home expansion of the twin Trimley villages, along with a project from a consortium for development of the northern edge of Felixstowe with homes in a parkland setting.

In addition, work has been taking place on a blueprint for the future development of Felixstowe.

Other ideas have also been received and are awaiting analysis by council experts.

Now the council is seeking ideas from the public on where possible future developments should or should not occur in the district - and has set a deadline of May 2 for these to be sent in.

This will enable the drawing up of the district's new Local Development Framework (LDF), which replace the Local Plan and last 15 years.

“The LDF is a long and complicated process, and we have already published many documents and held a series of workshops and public meetings to help us identify and agree the key issues facing the future of this district,” said deputy council leader Andy Smith.

“We know from the Regional Plan, and surveys of local needs, that growth is needed, particularly for housing, so we now need to consider where are the possible locations for that, and also for employment and recreational needs.

“We have to think carefully how we as a council approach these needs, both in villages and the larger towns.

“Parish and town councils and many other groups have already given us a wide variety of opinions on these issues during the consultations over the past three years, which will be at the forefront of our deliberations. However, any final comments will still be welcome.

“Also, a number of landowners have already contacted us with proposals for sites that they would like developed.

“By setting a deadline for these, we want to ensure that we have got all the possible sites ready for our consideration, and indeed an early warning of where people do not want any further growth.”

The next major stage will be preparation of Preferred Options documents setting out the council's suggested policies this summer when there will be full public consultation.

WEBLINK: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk

Where do you think new homes should be built in Suffolk Coastal? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk