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False Facts & Pseudo Consultation on Housing PlansSuffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) wants to build a MINIMUM of 2000 new houses on the Felixstowe Peninsula. We're currently in the middle of yet another "consultation" exercise where the powers that be are cynically pretending that they will listen to and take account of our views. Nevertheless, the Planning Inspector will take heed of your response to this and any future consultation. So make sure your views are known by responding to the consultation. Do not be fooled by any of the “throw enough mud & some will stick” strategy based upon false facts being used to try to justify building on irreplaceable grade 1 & 2 farmland. Here we look at the numerous false facts used to try to gain acceptance & win minds... |
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Written by Save Felixstowe Countryside
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Friday, 03 October 2008 20:12 |
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Grade 1 and 2 farmland classified as "Environmentally Sensitive Areas" is being targetted to be used as a site of a large housing estate to support a MINIMUM of 1620 now 1720 houses. The land borders an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)and is situated to the North of Felixstowe. The area concerned is shown on the map to the right. Whilst this area will accomodate much more than the current 1620 1720 homes, it become the location for ALL future housing expansion until it's gone forever. We also seek to protect the open field of Walton. An important barrier between Walton & Trimley St Mary which prevents them merging & losing identity. 
David Lock Town planning consultants undertook a consultation of how Felixstowe should be developed. Their report emphasised that this area;
i) is a precious, important and fragile wildlife habitat sensitive to intervention.
ii) is a high quality rural landscape which makes the town special
iii) is a valuable and much used recreatioal amenity for both visitors and local people
iv) is an alternative attration to complement the seaside for holidaymakers and with the potential to offer walking, cycling and birdwatching.
v)is an area which, if developed, would SERIOUSLY compromise what Felixstowe has to offer.
vi) should be considered to be included in the AONB.
Please support us in protecting this area from development and leave it as a rural and natural habitat to be enjoyed by future generations as a habitat for wildlife and an amenity for residents and visitors. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 October 2008 20:01 )
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Are the houses for local needs? |
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Written by Save Felixstowe Countryside
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Friday, 03 October 2008 21:48 |
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According to the 5 year housing model used by Suffolk Coastal to generate their figures for the THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
Local In-District Needs
2,949 = New households formed
3,167 = Household dissolution/death
-218 = Local housing requirement - ie a decline in housing required !!
Migration Needs - i.e. people moving TO the District
7,033 = Inward migration
3,167 = Outward migration
+3,866 = Houses required to support people moving INTO the District
3,866-218 = 2,335 = Total housing needs ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
The housing assesment document also goes on to say that the proportion of social housing required will actually increase with inward migration - based upon past experience & migration profiles. So the demand for social housing will go up, not down! Yes, Felixstowe needs affordable housing but affordable housing is not constrained by the same planning restrictions and can be built without large estate level developments. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 11 October 2008 00:52 )
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Is Money The REAL Driver? |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 11 October 2008 00:38 |
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The level of housing proposed is not for Felixstowe residents. It is needed for the migration of families into the District and to meet housing allocations set by the East of England Regional Authority (EERA). It will enable the District Council to pick up vast sums of money from central Government & to collect "roof taxes," said by Suffolk Planners to be potentially as much as £20,000 per property. See <here> for further details including the associated "glossy maybe." We learnt about the great "glossy maybe" from the excellent talk given by Richard Ward of the Suffolk Preservation Society. Click <here> for an overview of the meeting & the points we learnt. The key to the cash from the Government is the identification of so called growth locations which can be used to locate many houses. We strongly agee with Suffolk Preservation Society view - distribute the houses across the District in accordance with local needs and with local agreement. This might not nett as much cash as concentrating in one location - but there is more to life than money - such as Quality of Life. Countyside or concrete - which do YOU think provides the best quality of life? Yes - affordable and social homes are needed and we understand estate level developments are not required to deliver them. They can be built in areas for which building permissions are not normlly granted! |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 12 October 2008 06:46 )
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