Thousands of new homes planned for Haverhill
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 2nd December 1999.
SITES where 1,370 new homes could be built in Haverhill over the next 20 years have been unveiled.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council have earmarked five possible sites for housing, as well as others for employment and town centre redevelopment in its Draft Local Plan Review.
They are part of an issues report which will form the basis of consultation over the next six or seven years before the Local Plan up to 2016 is adopted.
Richard Livall, local plans manager for the council, appealed to residents to give their views on where houses, factories and shops should go.
Possible housing sites in Haverhill are land to the north east of Chalkstone Way, land at Hales Barn, land adjoining the flood park and land currently allocated for the Hanchett Business Park.
Mr Livall said this site was considered too small, with difficult access and a better site could be provided to the west or north. He also gave assurances that villages such as Withersfield and Little Wratting would be protected and not absorbed into Haverhill.
Possible employment areas are shown on land to the west of the by-pass and adjoining the floodpark.
Greater use of public transport would be encouraged, along with investigation of rail link, development of a northern by-pass and a possible cycle or park and ride for Haverhill. Possible town centre re-development sites identified are the Jubilee Walk car park, former Cleales site, Gurteens site and the former station yard site. Clare and Kedington are identified as rural areas for further expansion, but probably only by about 50 more houses each.
Mr Livall said he believed the effect of the Cambridge Sub-Region could mean expansion of Haverhill was even greater than the numbers suggested, with a 4,000 to 5,000 rise in the population.
"We believe the current figures are not enough to get the town buzzing and to provide the new community facilities we want. The signs are that when the regional planning guidance modifications are announced Haverhill will be getting a bit more housing," Mr Livall said.
Starting in January, 2,500 copies of the issues report will be circulated, 6,000 questionnaires sent out and a series of public meetings held.
Anyone wanting a copy of the issues report should write to Mr Livall at the Borough Offices.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council have earmarked five possible sites for housing, as well as others for employment and town centre redevelopment in its Draft Local Plan Review.
They are part of an issues report which will form the basis of consultation over the next six or seven years before the Local Plan up to 2016 is adopted.
Richard Livall, local plans manager for the council, appealed to residents to give their views on where houses, factories and shops should go.
Possible housing sites in Haverhill are land to the north east of Chalkstone Way, land at Hales Barn, land adjoining the flood park and land currently allocated for the Hanchett Business Park.
Mr Livall said this site was considered too small, with difficult access and a better site could be provided to the west or north. He also gave assurances that villages such as Withersfield and Little Wratting would be protected and not absorbed into Haverhill.
Possible employment areas are shown on land to the west of the by-pass and adjoining the floodpark.
Greater use of public transport would be encouraged, along with investigation of rail link, development of a northern by-pass and a possible cycle or park and ride for Haverhill. Possible town centre re-development sites identified are the Jubilee Walk car park, former Cleales site, Gurteens site and the former station yard site. Clare and Kedington are identified as rural areas for further expansion, but probably only by about 50 more houses each.
Mr Livall said he believed the effect of the Cambridge Sub-Region could mean expansion of Haverhill was even greater than the numbers suggested, with a 4,000 to 5,000 rise in the population.
"We believe the current figures are not enough to get the town buzzing and to provide the new community facilities we want. The signs are that when the regional planning guidance modifications are announced Haverhill will be getting a bit more housing," Mr Livall said.
Starting in January, 2,500 copies of the issues report will be circulated, 6,000 questionnaires sent out and a series of public meetings held.
Anyone wanting a copy of the issues report should write to Mr Livall at the Borough Offices.
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