Plans for 70 homes off Cavendish Road, Clare, near Haverhill, from Rainier Developments Ltd lodged with West Suffolk Council

Plans for a development of up to 70 homes on the edge of a town have been lodged with a council.

Rainier Developments Ltd submitted the proposals for the project south of Cavendish Road, on the edge of Clare, near Haverhill, last Friday.

The land, which is near the Stour Valley Community School, is currently vacant agricultural land. It is opposite the Denbury Homes’ 53-home Weavers Way development, which is currently offering properties for sale.

A planning statement said the development would deliver a mix of housing types, densities and tenures, including 40 per cent affordable housing.

The homes would be up to two storeys.

The statement described the proposals as a ‘sustainable new development to complement Clare’.

The site would be served by a single access point off Cavendish Road. It would be a priority, give-way junction and would be 5.5 metres wide.

As well as the vehicle access point, the new development would have ‘multiple access points’ for cyclists and pedestrians.

The proposals detailed a controlled crossing point across Cavendish Road to connect the site safely to the school.

The development would house a 30-space public car park, including three disabled bays and two EV charging points, to boost parking space in the town.

The project would incorporate a number of green spaces. This includes a ‘community orchard’ at the west of the site, which a planning statement said would ‘encourage local food growing’ and foster social interaction among residents of the new development and existing Clare community.

There is also plans for a ‘green focal point’ at the south of the site, which would comprise a children’s play area alongside natural landscape features and recreational walking routes.

The green space would feature an ‘attenuation basin’ while the development as a whole would continue the habitats and wildlife corridors from the next door Clare Castle Country Park.

The planning statement said the homes in the southern area of the site, to respect the Conservation Area and the nearby Clare Hall, would be low density and predominantly detached to break up the development.

The majority of the properties would offer parking either in garages or driveways, while visitor parking would be on street.

The planning statement said the site off Cavendish Road is not in the current Local Plan for development, but will be in the emerging new Local Plan.

Developers under took pre-application discussions with West Suffolk Council in June as well as with Suffolk County Council’s Highways department in August.

However, when they did a public consultation for the land in August, which detailed up to 60 homes, Clare Town Council voiced its objections.

It said it would not support the development unless existing infrastructure was improved and cited the need for a new central car park, which is now in the plans.

It also said traffic alleviation measures, increased sewerage capacity, education provision, doctors surgeries and public transport links would be needed.

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A decision on the application is expected by January 24, 2025.