THREE landowners have joined forces to draw up a project for a massive new settlement in open countryside on the edge of Felixstowe, it was revealed today.
THREE landowners have joined forces to draw up a project for a massive new settlement in open countryside on the edge of Felixstowe, it was revealed today.
The consortium has employed experts to design the scheme – in direct opposition to Trinity College's controversial plans to turn the Trimleys into a "new town".
Using a huge tract of land on the resort's northern edge, the scheme would feature hundreds of new homes, a country park, recreation and community facilities, and new roads.
Although town councillors have yet to see the ideas, they are likely to be in broad support as they have already identified most of the area concerned as a possible place for new homes.
The Trimley scheme has already caused outrage with hundreds signing petitions and writing letters, and the Felixstowe plan may cause just as much alarm.
Brian Barrow, of Bury St Edmunds-based Acorus Rural Property Services Ltd, which is drawing up the plans, said: "The scheme will allow surrounding villages such as the Trimleys to maintain their independence instead of becoming a suburb of Felixstowe.
"It is early days and we are unable to say at this stage how many houses or how much land it would include because that will depend very much on the government housing allocations specified for this area.
"We believe Suffolk Coastal will be faced with finding some land for housing and this area north of Felixstowe could provide an excellent site.
"It can be designed to fit in with the resort and link in with existing residential areas and provide new facilities for the town.
"There would be a new access from the A154 Candlet Road (Walton by-pass), rather than trying to squeeze homes into Trimley and adding more traffic onto High Road, which is already very busy," he said.
Discussions have already been held with Suffolk Coastal council and Acorus hopes in the next couple of months to have more detailed designs for the land owners who have yet to be identified.
It is understood the area which is being considered for the settlement runs from east of Gulpher Road, where the golf range is sited, between the northern edge of Felixstowe and Gulpher Road/Ferry Road to the Cliff Estate, Old Felixstowe.
Town councillors have suggested land between Estuary Drive and Ferry Road, fields each side of Walton High Street, farmland between Upperfield Drive and Gulpher Road, and sites north of the dock spur should be considered for homes.
Trinity College, Cambridge, has drawn up plans which could see as many as 3,000 new homes built in the twin Trimleys, where all the fields and open space between the A14 and railway line could be used, and Walton.
WEBLINKS: www.savetrimley.co.uk
www.trimley-vision.co.uk
www.trimley-st-martin.org.uk
n What do you think – is north of Felixstowe the best place for new homes? Write to Your Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
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