HAVE YOUR SAY ON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
| Published: 6th February 2008 11:03 |
Suffolk Coastal is asking for views on where new homes could be built in the areas east of Ipswich, and in Felixstowe, Walton and the Trimley villages, as the latest stage of its Local Development Framework (LDF).
The LDF will act as the blueprint for how the district will grow over the coming 15 or 20 years, and will set out for everyone exactly where, and where not, future developments will be acceptable.
"This is a very important document for the district and an important step towards finalising the Core Strategy which will set the context for the rest of the LDF. We have already involved the public and thanks to their contributions we are now at the stage of looking to identify possible broad locations for housing growth," said Cllr Andy Smith, Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning.
"In round figures, we think that there should be around 1,000 homes built in the east of Ipswich area and a further 1,600 at Felixstowe, Walton and the Trimley villages. What we now want to hear is people's ideas on where, in broad terms, those areas it would be appropriate for those homes to go. I would emphasise that the priority will continue to be to redevelop brownfield sites where possible before Greenfield ones.
"The stark facts are that we need to plan for more homes, and that the best place is in a group close to where there is already the jobs, schools, shops, roads and other infrastructure that are needed for quality of life, or the group itself is big enough to support new facilities. We have identified the best two areas, now we want help to start finding the best locations in those two areas," added Cllr Smith.
To View Proposal Click Here
Anyone with comments is asked to send their views in by March 28. The easiest and most convenient way is to use the online form on the Council's website http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/planning/review/corestrategy/furtherissues/
People who want to respond by post can either download and complete a Core Strategy Comment Form, or send their comments to the LDF team, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Melton Hill, Woodbridge IP12 1AU. They can also email development.policy@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
The Council will spend some time considering the responses to this eight week consultation and will later this year reveal its preferred general locations for housing developments, when there will again be an opportunity for the public to get involved. Potential individual sites will not be considered until later in the process when they will be considered under a separate document, Site Specific Allocations and Policies.
"The whole point of the new framework is to meet the needs and aspirations of all who live and work here, or may do so in the future. Given an enormous spectrum of views, and many conflicting objectives, it won't be possible ‘to please all the people all the time'. Nevertheless, the wider - and better informed - the public debate can be, the better we will together be able to get to the best set of solutions.
"The LDF is about people, all of us, about the sort of lives we shall lead in the future and the ‘quality of life' we, and crucially our children and grandchildren, will enjoy here.
"We have to work within a huge set of constraints. There are Government policies and rules that we must follow, and many circumstances and trends in society which may or may not be welcome, but which are not going to go away should we ignore them.
"For the LDF to be both legal and effective, these are issues that we cannot ignore, for the sake of our future generations. I hope that all who contribute to the debate will try to do so in that spirit," added Cllr Smith.
- There are factors which the LDF must take into account which include the law and Government policy, specifically as defined in the 'Regional Spatial Strategy', together with the need to demonstrate a 15 year ongoing supply of building land. If the LDF does not conform with that, for example about the number of new homes, the Government will tell the Council to do it again.
Even with no increase in population, more homes are needed because we are all living longer and more often at home rather than in care homes, while marital/relationship break-ups mean two homes rather than one are needed, and young people are leaving home earlier. Also, more people are moving here for both work and retirement.
Anyone wanting more information about the LDF process can call 01394 444761 or email development.policy@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or can visit www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/planning/review
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