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'City must build 17,000 more homes - and two townships'
With a population explosion set to expand the city, we take a look at what the planners may have in store for the next 19 years:
With a population explosion set to expand the city, we take a look at what the planners may have in store for the next 19 years:A SWATHE of land between the A1(M) and Hampton has been earmarked for a new 5,000-home township.
The proposal has been put forward in an Integrated Growth Strategy (IGS) which reveals where Peterborough could build 17,000 homes over the next 19 years. That's how many homes the city area still needs to build from an original target of 20,650 first set in 2001.
To cope with an unprecedented demand for housing, the IGS – which was commissioned by urban regeneration company Opportunity Peterborough – recommends that the city must build two new "urban extensions".
The largest estate – provisionally named Great Haddon – could be built across countryside bordered by the A15 and A1(M), in a development which would see Peterborough extend its influence to Norman Cross on the Huntingdonshire border.
Meanwhile, a second 1,000-home estate called Norwood could transform land to the north east of the city.
Download a PDF showing plans of Peterborough and the surrounding area, showing how many homes will be built and where (3.4MB file)
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What do you think about the plans?
Comment below, email us: news@peterboroughtoday.co.uk or telephone the newsdesk 01733 555111.
Prepared by global consultancy firm Arup, the 155-page IGS maps out how Peterborough will have to adapt to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call to build an additional three million homes in the UK by 2020.
The city centre will be transformed by an additional 5,000 homes, while five neighbourhood centres – Bretton, Hampton, Millfield, Orton and Werrington, will be rejuvenated by a combined 4,000 dwellings.
By recommending two new estates and mass house-building within the existing urban boundary, the pressure on Peterborough's surrounding villages has been lifted.
"Organic growth" alone will mean that villages will meet a target of building 590 homes between them, with Eye, Glinton, Thorney and Wittering absorbing the vast majority.
The IGS also gives hope to residents in Castor and Northborough, who are currently embroiled in battles to prevent estates of 42 and 30 homes respectively.According to the IGS, Castor should provide only 40 new homes by 2026, while Northborough is not required to build a single new home in that period.
And crucially, the IGS has not recommended building homes on a wedge of land between Glinton and Wittering, which had been earmarked for 1,250 to 1,750 homes, or on Glebe land south of Arthur Mellows Village College, in Glinton, where the Church of England is considering selling the plot to a developer.
OP has also revealed that the possibility of building a so-called "eco-town" – which has led to uproar in the Cotswolds and Leicestershire – will not be pursued in Peterborough.
Because of an anticipated population growth of around 48,000 by 2026, the IGS envisages the creation of 24,600 jobs on 80 hectares of land.
There will also be a considerable demand on school places, but the IGS advocates building six new primaries and two secondaries by 2025.
In addition, the city will need 30 local shops, 17 youth clubs, 15 community centres, eight pubs, five libraries, four health centres, an electricity substation and fire and police stations.
Hailing the IGS as the most comprehensive study of its kind ever undertaken in such a large area, OP's director of strategic growth Steve Bowyer said: "The conclusions of the IGS provide a positive foundation for the growth of Peterborough to the benefit of all our communities.
"The findings will enable us to make more informed decisions on how we deliver growth sustainably."
A draft recommendation, published in November 2007, had initially proposed building nearly 25,000 homes by 2026. Mr Bowyer said that figure had been reduced in the final version after concerns about the level of growth were raised at a series of consultation events.
Peterborough City Council leader councillor John Peach, said: "The IGS demonstrates how growth can be achieved without jeopardising the quality of life for future generations. These ideals will help underpin our claim to be the UK's environment capital."
Vice-chairman of Glinton Parish Council Gerry Kirt said the IGS would be cautiously welcomed.
He said: "On the face of it, it's good news for Glinton, but if you dig deeper there are fears that it isn't all it seems."
Bob Randall, a member of North Peterborough Villages Association – a group set up to fight a proposal to build on the wedge of land between Glinton and Werrington – said: "We are very pleased that North Werrington has not been allocated in the IGS, but we will be campaigning to ensure its protection is extended.
"In terms of the 100 homes in Glinton, I would like to know how OP can justify the figure when it was something we were not consulted on. How can Glinton get 100 homes and Northborough none?"
The IGS is expected to be enshrined into Peterborough City Council's Core Strategy.
Download a PDF showing plans of Peterborough and the surrounding area, showing how many homes will be built and where (3.4MB file)
-------------------------
What do you think about the plans?
Comment below, email us: news@peterboroughtoday.co.uk or telephone the newsdesk 01733 555111.
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