Development to rival eco-town at Long Marston (From Evesham Journal)

Development to rival eco-town at Long Marston

9:55am Thursday 24th April 2008

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A SENSATIONAL new 2,500 home development at Long Marston Airfield to rival the neighbouring eco town development has emerged this week.

Lodders Solicitors in Stratford confirmed that Stratford District Council received a letter of intent from them on behalf of H. G. Hodges & Son Ltd, who own the airfield, and which detailed an alternative scheme' for consideration.

Victor Matts of Lodders said: "The Hodges family would be prepared to offer the land to the council to fulfil the local housing need as an alternative to the eco town scheme.

"Importantly, it would need the backing of the local community and the council to proceed, and would be scrapped if the eco town plans went ahead."

Stratford District Council have yet to receive any planning application for the proposal, but confirmed they had received the letter and that no decision had been made.

Colin Staves, policy, heritage and design manager at Stratford District Council, said: "A proposal of this nature would have to be considered through the preparation of the local development framework, and would be one of the options that would have to be tested to be part of the process."

Campaigners have initially dismissed the idea claiming it's an example of other developers jumping on the eco town bandwagon, and would like to see more details.

BARD campaign spokesman, Melanie Riley, said: "These latest proposals came out of the blue. They're just another example of the ripple effect of choosing Long Marston as a site for 6,000 new homes and where will it end?

"Who will be next to jump on the bandwagon if the Government is allowing developers to ride-roughshod over regional planning strategy?

"What really concerns residents is the lack of detail behind development plans for the area, and it's time for all local councils affected to have a serious look at all the proposals to see if any of them are really necessary and sustainable in this area.

"Clearly our view is no."

Earlier this week Wychavon District Council's full council agreed that the development of the proposed eco town at Long Marston would be detrimental to the Wychavon district and resolved it would not meet the criteria for the selection of an appropriate site.

Wychavon also confirmed its support for local communities in the fight to prevent the Long Marston site being finally selected later this year.

Cllr Patrick Haycock, ward member for the Honeybourne and Pebwoth area, said: "Not only have the government neglected to notice that Long Marston is partially in our district, but they have shown a blatant disregard for the planning process and we will continue to be vocal in our opposition to this proposal."

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