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Latest News 15 October 2008: Eastern Daily Press Details of new town on edge of Norwich revealed by Ed Foss
The man spearheading plans for a 3,400-home eco-town on the edge of Norwich last night brushed aside the current economic gloom and outlined plans which could see the first houses sold and occupied within two years. Confident the housing downturn is simply a “blip,” developers behind the Rackheath Eco-Community revealed their detailed plans to the EDP yesterday ahead of holding a first public exhibition at the end of the month. A dedicated project website will be up and running today. The development would see homes and businesses self contained in terms of energy, waste and water. And it would feature new schools, a new railway station, dedicated bus and rail services, cycling and walking initiatives, leisure and healthcare facilities, shops, allotments, parks, a lake and green space. Levels of affordable housing could be as high as 40pc, over and above the 30pc target set by the government, said Paul Knowles, chairman of Building Partnerships, a regional property development company heading the scheme alongside Barratt Homes and carbon reduction and climate change experts from the UEA. The prospect of new, super-green communities has been led by prime minister Gordon Brown, steered by former housing minister Caroline Flint and now overseen by her successor Margaret Beckett. A national shortlist of 15 plans picked from an original list of nearly 60 proposals has caused widespread anxiety in communities - the next stage is for the Department of Communities and Local Government to cut the list to 10. While expressing a clear intention to listen to the views of the local community before any planning application is submitted, Mr Knowles was buoyant about the housing market and said he was not concerned that the economic climate could threaten the development. “The market goes up and down, we have been under providing houses for 40 years and sooner or later there will be demand for housing. “We think the current blip will be over when we come to selling - the market is still ticking over and when the mortgage famine is sorted out we feel there will be a need for these homes.
“We will consult the public carefully, a planning application could be in by autumn 2009, building could start in summer 2010 and people could be in the homes by the end of 2010.” Mr Knowles insisted the Rackheath development was one of the best for a host of reasons and said: “Here in Norwich we have the world leading knowledge to create what is truly an exemplar for the UK and potentially internationally. “I believe people will actively want to go and live on this development.” |
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