Outline plans for 190 homes in a town have been finally approved after outstanding conditions were met, despite neighbours' having previously expressed fears that the local infrastructure would be unable to cope with the extra residents.
Applicant Badger Building (East Anglia) had sent in a reserved matters application to East Suffolk Council relating to the homes on land south of Harrisons Lane in Halesworth.
The 21-acre site was bought by Badger Building (East Anglia) from Richborough Estates, which had secured planning permission for the homes and sports facilities, including a new 3G football pitch.
READ MORE: Halesworth land for 190 homes sold - but concerns raised over infrastructure
The plans were considered by the council's planning committee in April and approved subject to conditions being met, one of which concerned the positioning of a footpath and cycleway parallel to Harrisons Lane.
READ MORE: Up to 190 homes set to be built despite neighbours’ objections
Revised surface water drainage details were also submitted, which were deemed acceptable, enabling the planning approval to go ahead.
In 2019, Richborough Estates applied for the new homes in the area, pledging to create “a distinctive and locally inspired housing development where people will want to live”.
A third of the homes were set to be designated as “affordable properties”, which would either be available for rent or to buy in a shared ownership deal.
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However, a number of objections were made against the new homes, with both Halesworth Town Council and Holton Parish Council urging that the plan was refused by district councillors.
The town council said there were “inadequate parking facilities for visitors or for allowing for additional vehicle ownership on the site”, while the parish council added: “It is also felt that at the moment the existing infrastructure of schools and doctors surgery cannot support further development of the scale contemplated.”
Residents also wrote in to say that infrastructure in terms of schools and doctors surgeries needed to improve before such a large development was built, as well as to raise fears about parking in the town.
Others raised concerns on social media, with one person, Melanie Ibbott, saying: "What I don't understand is where all the jobs, schools, shops, recreation facilities and health services are to support all these new developments around the town."
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