Developer urges different plan for town growth
Monday, 5th October 2009.
A developer is promoting what he calls 'a more balanced option' for future Haverhill growth, as the closing date for comments on the Local Development Framework draws on.
The LDF core strategy is St Edmundsbury Council's blueprint for how the town will develop up to 2031, and has been required to accommodate another 2,500 homes.
The council's preferred option to locate this is on the north-east, beyond the Chalkstone estate, and involving a north-east relief road which could run right through Haverhill Golf Course.
Nic Rumsey of Carisbrooke Investments, the developer who created Haverhill Business Park, is pushing for a different option which would divide the new housing to include an area on the west of Haverhill.
Mr Rumsey, who admits he has a vested interest because he controls the suggested area either side of the bypass close to the Gateway roundabout, said he felt it was a more even-handed approach.
The council oppose the idea because it involves extending to the other side of the bypass.
"They consider the bypass is a boundary," he said, "but it is a relief road, and the relief roads they plan to the north-west and north-east would have housing beyond them."
His plan would include a 'kiss and ride' bus interchange, which he says is well-placed for the service to Cambridge.
Also, he claims, the plan would prevent the new development intruding on other villages, particularly Kedington.
He attended a parish council meeting in Kedington last week, and felt members were not happy about the council's option, but resigned to it.
He has written them a letter pointing out the benefits of his plan.
"A north-eastern bypass is going to cost £30million," he said. "The money will come from the development. But the bypass is already there, so that planning gain could go into the town for other things in the community."
The deadline for comments on the LDF core strategy, is 5pm on Wednesday.
The LDF core strategy is St Edmundsbury Council's blueprint for how the town will develop up to 2031, and has been required to accommodate another 2,500 homes.
The council's preferred option to locate this is on the north-east, beyond the Chalkstone estate, and involving a north-east relief road which could run right through Haverhill Golf Course.
Nic Rumsey of Carisbrooke Investments, the developer who created Haverhill Business Park, is pushing for a different option which would divide the new housing to include an area on the west of Haverhill.
Mr Rumsey, who admits he has a vested interest because he controls the suggested area either side of the bypass close to the Gateway roundabout, said he felt it was a more even-handed approach.
The council oppose the idea because it involves extending to the other side of the bypass.
"They consider the bypass is a boundary," he said, "but it is a relief road, and the relief roads they plan to the north-west and north-east would have housing beyond them."
His plan would include a 'kiss and ride' bus interchange, which he says is well-placed for the service to Cambridge.
Also, he claims, the plan would prevent the new development intruding on other villages, particularly Kedington.
He attended a parish council meeting in Kedington last week, and felt members were not happy about the council's option, but resigned to it.
He has written them a letter pointing out the benefits of his plan.
"A north-eastern bypass is going to cost £30million," he said. "The money will come from the development. But the bypass is already there, so that planning gain could go into the town for other things in the community."
The deadline for comments on the LDF core strategy, is 5pm on Wednesday.
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