Streetlife

Hi Shirley,
I agree with you, especially as it is unneccessary for the foreseeable future. Ipswich has enough previously developed land to meet normal growth needs for almost the next 10 years. Unfortunately the Ipswich Borough targets were based on the boom times which are no longer with us and unlikely to return. The other bad news is that since 2001 Ipswich based jobs have shrunk and even prior to the downturn the predicted jobs growth within the Borough over the next 15 years was small. In effect we are being asked to sacrifice the Northern Fringe to provide housing to meet potential jobs growth elsewhere, specifically Adastral Park, Felixstowe Docks, Ransomes Europark, Sizewell C and Snoasis(if it happens). Doesn't it make more sense to build the houses near the centres of jobs growth? or do we need to clog the roads up with alot more traffic. 4000 homes will generate alot more traffic!! Not surprisingly the neighbouring local authorities are also planning to build homes near to employment growth sites so we have a case of double counting. Wouldn't it be nice if the local authorities could work closer together on these matters as they are legally bound to rather than just pretend to be co-operating

More homes and more people will generate a lot more traffic full stop. Traffic is poor in the centre of Town but reasonably okay in other areas compared to other Towns and Cities in my opinion. Obviously that could change in that area should essentially a new estate crop up there.

I guess it would bring the Northern bypass issue back into the spotlight?

This was raised by Ipswich Borough Council as a 'wish' in the Ipswich Core Strategy but during the public examination of the Core Strategy last summer by a Public Inspector it was kicked into the long grass. The reasons for this were that there was no government money available, roads are the responsiblilty of Suffolk Council who felt the prospects of a bypass was unrealistic and that the land required for such a bypass would fall outside the Ipswich Borough

I think it will be a shame to build so many houses on Henley Road farm site. I understand from a conversation someone had with a person who is obviously involved that it will be like Grange Farm in Kesgrave. I just can't imagine what the traffic will be like.

What part of the Henley Rd is it they want to build on?

I understand that they will start close to the back of Ipswich School Playing Field but that is only hearsay.

Yes it will join Westerfield to Ipswich. And just like Grange farm. It will go as far down as op Defoe Rd. They can't fill the houses now. Crazy doing this.

It will go passed Defoe Road down to Lower Road across to Westerfield Road south of Westerfield and south of the railway crossing then over to Tuddenham Rd south of the railway line that crosses the road near to Ipswich and down Tuddenham road until it meets the existing houses. In all 500 acres. There is a map on the Ipswich council web site. Look up northern fringe and you can click on the map? It looks like Defoe Rd will be extended onto the development and will cross the railway via a new bridge. A lot of the traffic will be channelled onto Westerfield Road and new traffic lights put in to replace the roundabout where Westerfield Rd meets Valley Road. Traffic congestion is already an issue an this will make matters far worse

Oh far worse than I ever thought. Such lovely walks now and wildlife. I will be moving then when that all start. Awful.

Oh Shirley, it will be such a shame if this go ahead, that is lovely countryside around there!!

It is expected to start next year nearer to the railway. We would also have thought of moving but both being in our 70s and having lived in our bungalow for 42 years modernising as we go, we would find it a real wrench, so will just have to put up with it unfortunately.

Should have used the land in Sproughton Rd still nothing done with that. I've lived in the area here all my life. Used to play for ages as a child over fields watching birds and butterflys. Still go over there daily now. Can't be doing with concrete jungles. Will sell up and live in my caravan on a site in countryside. Can always move that if things change. Cost too much to move.

It's always a shame to lose lovely countryside but it's easy to forget Whitton was countryside not so long ago, when you look at a map of Ipswich the obvious area to build a new estate is in this area.

The transport network is the big issue in my opinion. Ipswich is an old Town and it's not designed for the volume of people it now holds.

Please someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the farmland on Henley Road was leased to the farmer and his lease expired.  It was inevitable it would be built on.  When we moved to what was called the Henley Rise Estate, we had fields at the back of us. Our bungalow was built in 1970 and prior to that houses in 1968.  Now we have 4 more rows of houses and bungalows behind us.  Then the nursing home was closed off Epsom Drive and houses were built there (after 1970- now Taunton Close).  This town has become enormous now but we don't have the shops Norwich has and I believe their population is less.  We came here in 1965 when it really was a lovely town but I think it doesn't have the appeal it had then, and we're stuck with it. Where else could we move to that isn't affected by concrete jungles with facilities, gas etc., without paying for expensive properties? Woodbridge is great but due to the holiday homes there now that is becoming like Aldeburgh.

While the borough of Norwich has a smaller population, I believe they have a wider urban area than Ipswich so it's overall population will be a bit higher.

I think everyone is in total agreement that the shopping experience in the Town can be significantly improved. Hopefully that will happen within the next 10 - 15 years.

Probably won't be in my lifetime then. They've been talking about this for the last 25 years or so.  Why can't they get their act together?

Before any more greenfield sites are built on they should start on the brown field sites around town.  The old bakery site on Norwich Road for one, it's an eyesore to visitors arriving off the A14.  Plenty of brownfield sites in the are to use before destroying any more open spaces with "cloned" housing developments.

Are these modern housing developments still cloned like they were in the 70's or have developers now learned from the mistakes of the past, putting considerably more thought into identity, layout and community etc with developments like Martlesham heath?

Well Ben I think the Planning rules change all the time. We have a bungalow built in the 70's and wanted to build an extension.We were advised by the Building Inspector that the builder of the houses at the back of our bungalow would not have been granted planning permission to build them so close these days. I think they just try to get as many to the acre as they can.

Well said Jean M. Tooks closed so long ago and still an eyesore. They should build there first. I hate going into town now. Infact I never go. Felixstowe far better and amazon !

Don't go into town much now, too many groups of people (non English) standing around watching you (let's not go there) and I shop online more, easy!