ALMOST 200 new homes could transform an area of largely disused land and help with Ipswich's housing shortage, it emerged today.Planners at Ipswich Borough Council are due to consider the latest proposals to build homes on a portion of Eastway business park, which is between Bramford Road and Sproughton Road, Ipswich.

ALMOST 200 new homes could transform an area of largely disused land and help with Ipswich's housing shortage, it emerged today.

Planners at Ipswich Borough Council are due to consider the latest proposals to build homes on a portion of Eastway business park, which is between Bramford Road and Sproughton Road, Ipswich.

Developer Crescent Estates, which has submitted a full planning application, wants to build 184 homes in two, three and four-storey blocks on an approximately two-acre portion of the 13 hectare site.

The developer's application proposes having 36 studio apartments, 46 one-bedroom apartments, 80 two-bedroom apartments and nine two-bedroom duplex apartments.

Crescent Estates also plans to have two two-bedroom houses, five three-bedroom houses and six four-bedroom houses, as well as play areas, urban squares and access from Europa Way.

Of the 184 homes, 25 per cent will be for social housing.

Mike Smith, head of planning and development at the borough council, said it was "quite a high density" residential scheme, which appears to be "fairly well thought through".

He welcomed the proposals in principle, even though the land had previously been earmarked for employment purposes.

He said: "We have promoted the development of this brownfield site for housing. It has hung around undeveloped for a long time and there is a pressing need for housing in the town.

"The adopted local plan shows the land earmarked as employment land, but we have proposed an alteration. We have proposed it be used as residential land.

"We will have to make sure the detail is right and that this is the right sort of development."

Mr Smith added that there were no overriding wildlife or contamination issues.

He said the site has been decontaminated and that they were not looking at any "overriding wildlife concerns on this part of the site", even though there have been wildlife concerns regarding other areas.

He said both issues would be looked into.

If the proposals do go through, Holden Timber Ltd - which has a roof truss manufacturing plant on the site – will have to be relocated.

Owner Russell Holden said: "We are aware of the application and are awaiting the outcome, but we are very happy at Eastway business park and have no plans to move in the immediate future."

The planning application's public consultation period is due to end on July 29.

Crescent Estates declined to comment.

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