Over the next 15 years Huntingdonshire will undergo a period of growth to accommodate more housing, employment, and other services, and the district council’s role will be to look at where we think this necessary growth should be located. And to assist us in this important role we are asking for local people to tell us what they think.
As a starting point in the process the council’s planning services teams looked at the current and future needs of the district and set them into the context of the future plans of other organisations such as the county council and Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust. We have drafted a ‘core strategy’ which is a longer term ‘plan’ setting out how land should be used in order to create a more sustainable Huntingdonshire.
We have considered the responses to our previous ‘issues and options’ consultation and redefined our thinking into a ‘preferred option.’ The preferred option will look to deliver at least 5,500 new homes --- of which a large proportion will be ‘affordable’ – 82 hectares of land for new employment opportunities and 2,200 square metres of additional shopping up to 2026.
This growth will primarily be focused in the market towns of Huntingdon and St Neots because of the sustainability of these locations and their accessibility. In other parts of the district the focus will be directed towards supporting market town and rural regeneration. We will be seeking to ensure that these new housing and employment developments are effectively linked to the delivery of new and upgraded infrastructure – for example the new A14 and further improvements to the A428.
A period of consultation is starting now and will run until 11 January 2008. During this time the public can view the document at any library in the district or on-line using the link on the right. Staff will also be available to discuss the strategy at two drop in sessions on 6 December at the Priory Centre, St Neots and 11 December at the district council’s Customer Services centre, Centenary House, Huntingdon, between 10 am and 2pm each day.
Councillor Peter Bucknell, executive councillor for planning strategy, environment and transport, said: The core strategy is one of the most important documents to have been produced in a long time because it provides a framework for our district’s future that will have a real impact on what happens for years to come.”
“We are keen to encourage public participation in the process and we would urge people to take advantage of this opportunity to get involved and make their views known. This really is the chance to help shape the future of Huntingdonshire”.
For times of the drop-in sessions and any other queries the development plans team may be contacted on 01480 388388.