Major resi planning application submitted at Black Bear Lane

West Suffolk Council has received an outline planning application for 123 homes and commercial space at Black Bear Lane, The Former Swimming Pool, Rowley Drive, Former White Lion, and High Street Newmarket.

The proposed development will include a block of 40 flats of which 18 will be one-bedroom flats and 22 will be two-bedroom flats. The development will also include 83 houses, 11 of which will be located on the former Shell parcel of land. The mix of house sizes shall include a range of three, four- and five-bedroom houses. According to the planning application, the proposed houses will be provided predominantly in a range of terraced and semi-detached houses.

The outline planning statement proposes that 86 of the proposed units will be market housing and the remaining 37 will be affordable housing, representing a 30% affordable housing split.

The application also outlines 6’050 sq ft of new commercial floor space that will be created on the site of the former White Lion public housing.

The proposals include a designated horse-walking area on the site to connect the existing horse-walking network on the Rows, however, this has attracted criticism from Newmarket Horsemans Group. Executive Director Nicky Parsons commented that the proposal impacts horse movements within the vicinity of the site without proper explanation or assessment.

One of the highlights of the proposed project is the new landscaped public square. The plans detail one formal and two informal play areas, as well as the creation of a new communal woodland garden. 123’785 sq ft of open space will also be provided as public space.

The proposed site is currently under different ownerships. The former swimming pool and White Lion public house are owned by Unex Limited whilst the former Shell parcel of land is still owned by Shell but is being acquired by Unex Limited imminently. The former Fitzroy Paddocks is currently owned by TAP Investments Limited.

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