Residents still have until November 18 to comment on Suffolk
Coastal’s proposals on where new homes should be shared out across
the district between now and 2025.
Today (Thursday) and Monday (November 2) there are also two
opportunities for people to quiz Council planning officers about
the latest version of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Core
Strategy.
“I would urge people to take the chance to get as informed as
possible about our proposals which we believe are the best way
forward for the future of our district and all its communities. We
want to receive their comments and people still have nearly three
weeks to make them,” said Cllr Andy Smith, Suffolk Coastal’s Deputy
Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning.
A drop-in session is being held from 6pm to 8.30pm at Martlesham
Heath Pavilion tonight, with another at Felixstowe Town Hall on
Monday, again between 6pm to 8.30pm, so that anyone needing
clarification about the proposals can speak directly to planning
officers.
The Government requires the Council to provide for 7,710 new
homes in the district by 2025. Outstanding planning permissions
exist for 1,780 of those and another 1,850 will be within existing
built-up areas, or areas already identified in the existing Local
Plan. The remaining 4,080 require new areas of land to be
allocated.
Across the period of up to 2025, the figures would mean an annual
average of 160 homes in Martlesham and 350 homes across the rest of
the district being built on new sites.
It is proposed that 2,000 new homes be allocated for Martlesham,
that homes in Felixstowe and the Trimleys will be in a variety of
locations, and phased over three five-year periods, with the first
restricted to previously developed land and, if necessary, one
small-scale greenfield site, and up to 1,000 being in new areas
later.
New homes in the district’s market towns would initially
concentrate on previously developed brownfield sites, before using
greenfield sites in Leiston and Woodbridge, and the assessment of
the needs of each market town.
By 2025 there would also be a target of 330 new homes in the
district’s key service centres, one third of which would be
affordable homes, with the greenfield locations being chosen after
consultation with the local parish councils about local housing
need.
“Our Core Strategy will help meet the future needs of our
district’s residents for homes, jobs, shops and leisure while
safeguarding our communities and our valued environment.
“Following the public consultation earlier this year, and also
taking account of the changing economic circumstances, we have made
significant changes in the distribution of housing, most notably in
Felixstowe and Martlesham, which is why we are again asking for
views from the public.
“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,” added Cllr
Smith.
The final decision, taking account of feedback from the new
consultation, will then be taken later this year.
People have until 5pm on Wednesday, November 18 to submit their
comments. Online comments can be made by visiting
www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/planning/review/corestrategy
while copies of the latest proposals can also be seen at the
Council’s Melton Hill offices or local libraries.
Those who would prefer not to submit their comments online can
email them to
development.policy@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
or send them to Housing Distribution Consultation, Planning
Services, Council Offices, Melton Hill, Woodbridge, IP12 1AU or fax
them to 01394 385100.
“It has been brought to my attention that there is at least one
other on-line survey about our new Core Strategy. I cannot stress
how important it is that people who want to make their individual
voice heard really must send us their views direct, rather than
through someone else. The legal rules mean we cannot give us as
much weight to information culled from other surveys or sources,”
added Cllr Smith.
Where individuals are happy for their representations to be
provided collectively as part of an interest group it is extremely
helpful to the Council if the group (particularly new ones) could
provide brief details of who they are, the extent of their interest
and the numbers of people in their group, alongside the contact
details for the main
spokesperson(s).