Major step forward for home and school expansion development in Great Barton
There could be almost 200 homes built on the site
Plans for up to 191 homes and a primary school expansion on the edge of a market town in Suffolk could take a major step forward.
On Tuesday next week, members of West Suffolk’s cabinet will discuss the future of 12.81 hectares of land known as The Triangle on the edge of Great Barton.
Plans for a blueprint of how the site should be developed were in consultation between November 2022 and February 2023, with the district’s cabinet members now asked to approve the final development brief.
The site, owned by both the district and county councils, is made up of agricultural land and woodland and is bounded by Mill Road (B1106), The Street (A143), and School Road.
The final version of the document outlines the vision for between 184 and 191 homes to be built, 30 per cent of which affordable, with a first phase delivering 40 houses on a patch of land along School Road.
Council papers due to be presented on Tuesday show mixed feelings about the amount of housing included in the final document, with comments stating housing is needed in the village, while others ward too many are being proposed.
The housing mix would mostly be made up of homes, between one and three bedrooms, as a direct result of community feedback asking for starter homes for families.
Also as a result of community feedback, planning officers included an expectation the 30mph limit currently in place in Mill Road would be extended while the section of the road still at national speed limit would be changed to 40mph.
The document also includes the provision of a 1.1 hectare expansion of Great Barton Primary School alongside a new pupil drop off and pick up facility.
In terms of other infrastructure, officers have set aside 1.71 hectares for community as well as a further plot for a community building which could be delivered through other funding in the future.
Play areas and open space are also part of the proposals.
Although the document makes several suggestions as to what the council wants to see delivered, it will still be up to the developer to ensure the viability of the proposals.