Almost 250 new homes approved near Stowmarket
It's the next stage of the Northfield View development
Final approval has been granted for the next 234-home phase of the Northfield View development near Stowmarket, despite concerns from councillors.
Mid Suffolk District Council granted approval for the final matters around landscaping, appearance, scale and layout on phase 2C by six votes to one at its meeting on Wednesday morning.
That phase is for 234 homes off Fuller Way – 47 of which are designated affordable – which are largely two-five bed properties.
James Bailey, agent on behalf of developers Taylor Wimpey, said: “The houses to be constructed are similar to those on the previous phases of development, as are the materials to be used, with the aim of achieving a consistent approach across the whole development.”
A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson added: “We are pleased that our application for the latest phase of development at Northfield View has been approved. This phase will provide a variety of benefits to the local area, including high-quality new homes for a range of buyers and a series of measures to protect and enhance wildlife habitats.
“We are grateful to all local residents and stakeholders who have helped to shape our plans. We are confident that the new development will bring a lasting positive impact to the area and we anticipate beginning construction in Autumn 2023.”
Developers have confirmed that 1.7-hectares of the 8.92-hectare site will be allocated for public open space, while 58 visitor spaces are set to be distributed across the residential portion.
No objections were received.
However, councillors took umbridge with a number of elements, including the high number of parking courts without electric vehicle ducting being provided, gas heating being proposed when it is being phased out, and 51 per cent of the affordable homes not meeting space standards.
Committee chairman Matthew Hicks said the space standards issue was ‘really poor’ while Cllr Sarah Mansel said it was ‘almost a 20th Century housing development’.
Developers said they would be looking to incorporate some solar panels but would not be drawn on numbers.
The committee approved the application with additional conditions, including the maximum number of solar panels to be used, ducting to be provided to ensure every house has at least one electric vehicle charging point, permeable driveways, early planting of trees and a plea for construction to meet the 2023 building regulations standards even where work starts before then.
In 2015, the first phase of 215 homes and land for a primary school were agreed, before outline consent for 600 homes as phase two was approved in July 2018.
In November 2018, the final approval for 175 of those 600 homes (2A) was agreed, with the next 100 (2B) also being among those 600 and approved in March last year.
The approval of the 234 (2C) on Wednesday means the final phase, 2D, will contain 91 homes, expected to contain more one-bedroom properties.