Local people will soon be able to comment on a draft design brief that will help shape the future development opportunities on a site at Mayfield Road, Huntingdon which has been identified for sustainable eco-friendly housing. Its purpose is to ensure that a well planned and appropriate development can take place, which contributes to improving the built environment of the town. 

Huntingdonshire District Council is setting an example of sustainable development by proposing to deliver a high quality eco friendly affordable development on a council owned site. 

This proposal has emerged from the government requiring new homes to be assessed against a mandatory rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes.   This new standard gives all new homes a rating based on their performance on sustainability criteria.

The site in Mayfield Road is in a sustainable location close to the town centre and facilities such as schools and leisure facilities.  It is considered that part of the site could be developed for sustainable eco-friendly housing whilst still maintaining a reasonably sized area of green open space on the site. Around 30 homes could be built to provide affordable housing for rent and low cost home ownership.

The council, in partnership with Cambridgeshire Horizons secured grant funding to enable the proposed development to take place. 

Councillor Peter Bucknell, the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport said “I am really pleased to see that Huntingdonshire is leading the way in terms of delivering affordable sustainable homes”.

Two public consultation events and exhibitions are to be held on Monday 2 June 10am-2pm at Huntingdon Market Place and Tuesday 3 June 5pm-8pm at Mayfield Road Shopping Centre where the local residents can get involved and ask questions.

The design brief and a questionnaire will be available to view at the Council's website on the planning policy pages from Tuesday 27 May until Friday 20 June or you can view the document with questionnaires at Huntingdonshire District Council Customer Service Centre at Centenary House, St Mary’s Street in Huntingdon.

All views received will be assessed and the design brief will be revised where required to take people’s comments into account.  Later in the year it is hoped that a further public consultation event will take place, based upon the revised design brief, illustrating possible building locations and designs.

Enquiries about the design brief should be made to Alison Wood, Urban Design Officer on 01480 388476.