Developers in stand-off with council over research park
Tuesday, 13th July 2010.
The developers who control the land proposed for the site of a research park on the western edge of Haverhill, have said the scheme will not happen unless planners change their ideas.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has issued a draft concept statement for the 30 acres at Hanchet End next to the gateway roundabout, which is currently out to public consultation.
But Carisbrooke, who developed Haverhill Business Park and who now control the land, say they are not happy with it.
They say the cost of developing the land will be about £4m, and the whole idea constitutes a 'leap of faith' because there is no proven market for such a development in Haverhill.
To give them the confidence to go ahead, they want the concept statement to earmark one third of the site for 'higher value development', which could mean retail, hotel, leisure or even residential.
An earlier report on the site suggested five acres - one sixth - of the site should be earmarked for residential at £1million an acre, but Carisbrooke say that value is not obtainable now.
In a statement, Carisbrooke say: "If a high quality research park is to be developed, the concept statement must instill both the confidence and certainty to enable Carisbrooke to invest in the production of the detailed masterplan for the site, otherwise it will simply not happen."
The land currently has permission for warehousing, which Carisbrooke say has a proven track record of viability in Haverhill.
But this would not deliver the sort of prestige development which they and the council have said they want to achieve on the prime site which gives visitors from the west their first view of Haverhill.
In a section of their statement headed Aspiration Versus Allocation, Carisbrooke say: "It is totally unrealistic to expect
Carisbrooke to give up a viable use of the site when the concept statement is not clear about the 'higher value uses' that would be acceptable, and their extent."
They call on the council to review the concept statement to provide the required clarity.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has issued a draft concept statement for the 30 acres at Hanchet End next to the gateway roundabout, which is currently out to public consultation.
But Carisbrooke, who developed Haverhill Business Park and who now control the land, say they are not happy with it.
They say the cost of developing the land will be about £4m, and the whole idea constitutes a 'leap of faith' because there is no proven market for such a development in Haverhill.
To give them the confidence to go ahead, they want the concept statement to earmark one third of the site for 'higher value development', which could mean retail, hotel, leisure or even residential.
An earlier report on the site suggested five acres - one sixth - of the site should be earmarked for residential at £1million an acre, but Carisbrooke say that value is not obtainable now.
In a statement, Carisbrooke say: "If a high quality research park is to be developed, the concept statement must instill both the confidence and certainty to enable Carisbrooke to invest in the production of the detailed masterplan for the site, otherwise it will simply not happen."
The land currently has permission for warehousing, which Carisbrooke say has a proven track record of viability in Haverhill.
But this would not deliver the sort of prestige development which they and the council have said they want to achieve on the prime site which gives visitors from the west their first view of Haverhill.
In a section of their statement headed Aspiration Versus Allocation, Carisbrooke say: "It is totally unrealistic to expect
Carisbrooke to give up a viable use of the site when the concept statement is not clear about the 'higher value uses' that would be acceptable, and their extent."
They call on the council to review the concept statement to provide the required clarity.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)