Plans for 750 new homes on the western edge of Ipswich have been approved by Babergh District Council.

The second phase of the Wolsey Grange development’s outline planning application for 750 homes to be built on both sides of Hadleigh Road in Ipswich, close to Chantry Park, was approved by Babergh’s planning committee on January 25, after previously being recommended for approval.

Both Pinewood and Sproughton Parish Councils opposed the development on four parcels of land, which will be the second phase of the Wolsey Grange development, due to the visual impact of the development, landscape harm and the detrimental effect on heritage assets and the lack of infrastructure available to support the scheme.

Developer Taylor Wimpey is set to provide a 35 per cent allocation of affordable homes, a mix of housing types, new pedestrian and cycle routes and land for a new primary school, detailed in plans submitted in May 2021.

The scheme allocates three hectares of land for a primary school and 28 hectares for public open space.

The main area of the 53-hectare site will be bounded by the A1071 to the south, while there will be further sections to the north of Hadleigh Road, bounded by Church Lane and an area between the A1071, A14 and Hadleigh Road.

In a report to the committee after recommending the plans for approval, planning officers said: “The proposal for 750 new homes would add to the local housing stock and offer meaningful support for the local services, both during construction and following occupation of the development. 

“Consequently, the proposal would have social and economic benefits that, given the scale of development proposed, would be significant.

“These benefits are afforded more than moderate weight given the level of contribution towards the aim of achieving sustainable development. They weigh clearly in favour of the scheme.”

The plans were approved despite 55 public objections, subject to conditions including that the development should not begin until both the roundabout junction and the A1071 and Hadleigh Road junction improvements have been completed and that the parish council will be consulted over design and a construction management plan.

Boyer Design, based out of Boyer’s Colchester office led on the masterplanning work on behalf of Taylor Wimpey.

Image source: Boyer

© Eastern Echo (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).

Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.