1300 New Homes Proposed for Kesgrave
Discussed at 5th Feb Planning MeetingWhat do local people think about 1,300 new houses at Longstrops? Please come and let the developers and the Town Council know your views. Please voice your opinions, ask any questions during the public adjournment and raise any concerns that you may or may not have.
Turnberry Planning Development Consultants – agents of Grainger plc. (landowner), gave a presentation to Kesgrave Town Council’s Planning and Development Committee Meeting – a public Meeting, on the 8th January 2018. The interest of Fenton’s, local landowners (in partnership with Grainger plc), was also noted. A brief question and answer session followed. The Meeting established that this very initial proposal is not in any way linked to the current Persimmon proposal and rescheduled Public Inquiry. The Meeting also noted that there is a Community Design Process in place with regard to any development. Grainger plc normally invest in the private rental sector, but they are looking to diversify into developing land for residential house building and new sales with associated infrastructure. The Issues and Options process was noted by those at the Meeting. The former US Listening Station and Museum was mentioned by Turnberry with regard to sustaining this by turning it into a civic centre. The proposal is for 1300 new dwellings. A new primary school and new doctor surgery are proposed and also the diversion of the Route 66 is proposed across the Millennium Jubilee Field. Turnberry stated that other community stakeholders are currently involved in discussions with them, including the highways and education departments at Suffolk County Council. Suffolk Coastal District Council – the Local Planning Authority, in due course, will be undertaking the normal planning consultation and once a written planning application has been submitted. Questions and comments at the Meeting included querying of access points, (three are proposed), the bus diversion, (which is proposed through the Millennium Jubilee Field – just for buses), the current size/population of Kesgrave and the insufficient infrastructure to support a large development such as this, querying the question of land swaps, health care facilities and if this is a genuine offer was queried, where a hub facility could be available via CiL, (Community Infrastructure Levy), in conjunction with the NHS. The Meeting also noted that the adjoining land owner to the south is Johnson and Thompson and the question was asked, as to whether the agents are taking into account the neighbouring Adastral Park development at Martlesham Heath.
Turnberry has asked if it can attend the next Planning and Development Committee Meeting of the Town Council. This is on Monday, 5th February 2018 at 6.15pm at the Town Council offices. Members of the public are more than welcome and indeed encouraged to come to this Meeting.
