The Flyer
Town & County.
News from the villages
Council’s Plans for Housing in
Needham Market Approved
Proposals for the regeneration of
the former Mid Suffolk offi ces and
the former Needham Market Middle
School have been approved, giving the
green light for new housing and retail
in Needham Market.
The planning applications for a total of
135 new homes were approved by Mid
Suffolk’s Planning Referrals Committee
in February securing 38% affordable
housing across both sites when
completed, either for affordable rent
or under affordable home ownership
schemes.
The two applications approved are
for 94 new homes at the former Mid
Suffolk District Council Offi ces at 131
High Street and 41 new homes at the
site of the former Needham Market
Middle School.
Cllr Jill Wilshaw, Mid Suffolk’s Cabinet
Member for Housing, said: “These
housing permissions are good news
for our district: not only do these plans
bring two disused sites back into
use, they will provide much needed
housing in the town, with a mix that
will provide affordable housing for
those on the lowest incomes as well
as those purchasing at market rate.
The commitment to deliver a new
library and retail facilities, along with
the work to keep safeguard historic
buildings on both sites, means these
plans strike the right balance.”
Mid Suffolk District Council has
approved up to £600,000 for the
development of a brand-new
visitor centre at Needham Lake
Anyone interested in registering
an early interest in the shared
ownership units then please email:
housingdevelopment@
baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk
Photo: Needham Lake (with thanks to Mid Suffolk District Council)
Proposals to build a high quality
environmentally friendly visitor
information centre included a café and
new public convenience facilities.
Artist impression of the proposed development at the former Mid Suffolk District
Council offi ces at 131 High Street, Needham Market.
The improvements complement
an already well-used and popular
destination in the district and have
been developed following a user
consultation. The new centre would be
owned by the council and operated by
a private business or social enterprise.
Needham Lake already attracts in
excess of 300,000 visitors a year, with
Visit England having ranked it as the
second most visited free attraction in
the East of England. The lake provides
a great place for the community to get
active and spend time in the natural
environment.
The aim of the improvements is to
create a venue that will enhance visits
to the lake each year helping to boost
the local economy.
It is envisaged that works will start
in the autumn with the visitor centre
opening in time for the 2020 Summer
season
Cllr David Burn Mid Suffolk District
Council’s Cabinet Member for
Environment, said:
“It’s great to see proposals for new
facilities at Needham Lake reaching
the approval stage. Our ambition is
to secure the future of Needham Lake
as a premier visitor, community and
family destination for our residents
and beyond.
Having a café included in the plans
provides a much needed community-
based venue that is easily accessible
to locals and visitors alike, whilst also
helping to support our local economy.”
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TH E FLYER | A PR IL 2019
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