RESIDENTS are to be asked again for their views on where thousands of homes should be built in Suffolk after major changes were made to the proposals.Planners are now suggesting the number of homes earmarked for Martlesham should be doubled to 2,000 as part of the creation of a new community on the BT Adastral Park site.

RESIDENTS are to be asked again for their views on where thousands of homes should be built in Suffolk after major changes were made to the proposals.

Planners are now suggesting the number of homes earmarked for Martlesham should be doubled to 2,000 as part of the creation of a new community on the BT Adastral Park site.

At Felixstowe, the number of homes would be cut by 30 per cent to 1,400.

Because the proposals are so different to those originally planned, Suffolk Coastal District Council cabinet has decided to hold eight weeks of further public consultation later this summer.

There is concern over both proposals - villages near Martlesham are worried about the impact on the area, while people in Felixstowe say still too many homes are proposed and are concerned over the loss of countryside.

Council deputy leader Andy Smith said: “Cabinet recognised that the changes to the distribution of housing are significant enough that we should take the opportunity to give everyone the opportunity to understand and comment upon them.

“We have to plan carefully for the future, to ensure as much as possible that we maintain and enhance our excellent quality of life, while making it possible for our people to find the jobs and homes that are needed to stop our district stagnating.

“We believe that our latest proposals are the best way forward and I hope people will take this latest chance to give an informed opinion on them.”

Some 7,710 homes have to be built in the district by 2025. There is already planning permission for 1,780 and some will be built on sites in towns, but land will have to be allocated for 4,080.

Where should the new homes be built? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk