Suffolk Coastal has announced a later closing date for comments on the broad areas 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. At this stage we want to hear 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.

“There has already been a great deal of debate on this subject, some well-informed, some less so, but to give people more time to find out the facts and give us their opinions, we are now extending the deadline until April 11, although I must stress that there will still be other opportunities for people to have their say,” added Cllr Smith.

All the demographic facts point to the need for Suffolk Coastal to plan for more homes. The national policy is that the best place is to group new homes close to where there is already the jobs, schools, shops, roads and other infrastructure that are needed for quality of life, or to make the group itself big enough to support new facilities.

It is the Council’s view that in Felixstowe, Walton and the Trimley villages, along with the east of Ipswich, it has identified the best two areas.

Anyone with comments is asked to send their views in by Friday, April 11. The easiest and most convenient way is to use the online form on the Council’s website 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 extended 10-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.