Concerns over Haverhill's next big expansion
Thursday, 26th November 2009.
The latest plans to build more than 1,000 new homes in north-west Haverhill have come in for a range of criticisms from town councillors.
The plan, submitted by Bidwells on behalf of the North-West Haverhill Consortium of Landowners - made up of the Vestey Trustees, Mrs Pelly, Mr Smart and Mr Smith - is for a mixed development including a relief road, houses, a school, a local centre to include retail and community use and public open space.
Haverhill Town Councillors meeting on Tuesday evening put forward their views which will be passed on to St Edmundsbury Borough Council who will determine the outline application.
Issues highlighted by town councillors concerned the height of building close to the A143 on a main approach to the town, the size of the community building, potential for flooding on the main road, routing of construction traffic and the capacity of the Haverhill sewage works.
Members pushed for a roofline reduction close to the road and were also concerned the open space at the entrance to Ann Suckling Road, included when the Boyton Hall development was designed, would be overwhelmed.
The insisted the relief road be completed before the first house was occupied, and they wanted to make sure the parish boundaries were reviewed so that Haverhill benefited from the council tax from new properties.
Town clerk Gordon Mussett drew attention to Anglian Water's comment that the 755 homes in the proposed first phase could be accommodated but they had concerns over the 400 in phase two.
Councillors asked that nothing should be done towards phase two until Anglian Water confirmed this had been dealt with, and possibly the developers should make a contribution to whatever work was needed.
Mr Mussett pointed out that the developers's view was that if they paid for the relief road and had to accept 40 per cent of the development would be affordable housing, they would have very little money left for anything else.
He also drew attention to the proposed meeting hall in the community centre, which is 150 sq m, implying a seating capacity of around 135, which he thoiugh insufficient for an estate of over 1,000 homes.
The plan, submitted by Bidwells on behalf of the North-West Haverhill Consortium of Landowners - made up of the Vestey Trustees, Mrs Pelly, Mr Smart and Mr Smith - is for a mixed development including a relief road, houses, a school, a local centre to include retail and community use and public open space.
Haverhill Town Councillors meeting on Tuesday evening put forward their views which will be passed on to St Edmundsbury Borough Council who will determine the outline application.
Issues highlighted by town councillors concerned the height of building close to the A143 on a main approach to the town, the size of the community building, potential for flooding on the main road, routing of construction traffic and the capacity of the Haverhill sewage works.
Members pushed for a roofline reduction close to the road and were also concerned the open space at the entrance to Ann Suckling Road, included when the Boyton Hall development was designed, would be overwhelmed.
The insisted the relief road be completed before the first house was occupied, and they wanted to make sure the parish boundaries were reviewed so that Haverhill benefited from the council tax from new properties.
Town clerk Gordon Mussett drew attention to Anglian Water's comment that the 755 homes in the proposed first phase could be accommodated but they had concerns over the 400 in phase two.
Councillors asked that nothing should be done towards phase two until Anglian Water confirmed this had been dealt with, and possibly the developers should make a contribution to whatever work was needed.
Mr Mussett pointed out that the developers's view was that if they paid for the relief road and had to accept 40 per cent of the development would be affordable housing, they would have very little money left for anything else.
He also drew attention to the proposed meeting hall in the community centre, which is 150 sq m, implying a seating capacity of around 135, which he thoiugh insufficient for an estate of over 1,000 homes.
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