Post by Sherford on Jul 6, 2006 22:29:30 GMT
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LESSON FOR THE FUTURE
11:50 - 03 July 2006
Mistakes made during the development of Ivybridge will not be repeated at a showcase new settlement on the outskirts of Plymouth, a planning chief has promised.
Planning officials at South Hams District Council began the process which will lead to the first home at Sherford - which will take up to 5,500 new houses - being built within the next two years.
But senior planning officer Paul Tyler said mistakes made during the development in Ivybridge had been studied to ensure they would not be repeated at Sherford.
Various groups and organisations in Ivybridge - including local councillors - have complained for decades over the lack of community facilities in the town.
Ivybridge was allowed to experience a 20-year housebuilding boom from the 1970s, resulting in it being dubbed "the fastest-growing town in western Europe".
Its population soared from a few thousand to more than 12,000.
But badly-needed community facilities such as a youth centre, a decently-sized town hall and a library to cope with the demands of a growing settlement were left off the drawing board.
Mr Tyler said that one of the problems with Ivybridge was that its residents were dependent on their cars, because all the town's facilities were in its centre.
In the Sherford development, which will be completed by 2016, eighty per cent of the dwellings will be within five minutes' walk of main community facitilies.
Mr Tyler said: "With Sherford, there will be an early provision of schools, shops, community halls and open spaces.
"With Ivybridge, its town centre and employment were zoned in such a way that people have to use their cars to get anywhere.
"We want people to think that Sherford's a great place to live, because they don't have to get into their cars."
Town councillors recently tried to negotiate for a minor injuries unit to be sited there, but it was pointed out that the planned Sherford community would include a new health centre, which incorporates a minor injuries unit.
Ivybridge mayor Marc Chapman said he accepted that the new settlement would get more facilities than his home town.
He said: "What we haven't got, Sherford will get, as I've already said.
"But we can't change the past, and in any case, the town hasn't got the land to build any new facilities.
"What we must do is focus on what we've got and enhance it."
The admission over Ivybridge was made as South Hams District Council launched its Sherford Area Action Plan for public consultation, which will last six weeks.
The project, involving South Hams District Council, Plymouth City Council, the developer Red Tree, the Prince's Foundation, Devon County Council and many other public-sector bodies, has been refined over several years.
The district council's head of community regeneration, Lee Bray, said: "The launch of this final consultation will take us another step closer to realising this important project.
"The council is determined that Sherford will be a flagship development: highly sustainable, well- designed, balanced and inclusive, and, most importantly, delivering a large number of affordable homes.
"Once the six-week period of consultation is complete, the Government's independent inspector will be appointed, and, at the beginning of next year, the inspector will begin to test the soundness of the plans with a comprehensive and thorough examination of the submitted document, including any public representations made during this consultation period."
South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council have been working together for more than six years to bring forward the plan for Sherford, consulting a wide range of local community representatives and stakeholders through workshops and discussion.
The new community will be well linked to Plymouth by fast and frequent public transport.
The development will include new homes, workspaces, shops, schools, health and leisure facilities, and a large community park. It could also include up to five small-scale wind turbines. It is hoped the development will cut the number of households presently on the district council's waiting list for affordable housing - currently 2,000.
A website dedicated to Sherford has been prepared where all the information, consultation, news and views relating to the development can be found; go to www.southhams.gov.uk/sherford
LESSON FOR THE FUTURE
11:50 - 03 July 2006
Mistakes made during the development of Ivybridge will not be repeated at a showcase new settlement on the outskirts of Plymouth, a planning chief has promised.
Planning officials at South Hams District Council began the process which will lead to the first home at Sherford - which will take up to 5,500 new houses - being built within the next two years.
But senior planning officer Paul Tyler said mistakes made during the development in Ivybridge had been studied to ensure they would not be repeated at Sherford.
Various groups and organisations in Ivybridge - including local councillors - have complained for decades over the lack of community facilities in the town.
Ivybridge was allowed to experience a 20-year housebuilding boom from the 1970s, resulting in it being dubbed "the fastest-growing town in western Europe".
Its population soared from a few thousand to more than 12,000.
But badly-needed community facilities such as a youth centre, a decently-sized town hall and a library to cope with the demands of a growing settlement were left off the drawing board.
Mr Tyler said that one of the problems with Ivybridge was that its residents were dependent on their cars, because all the town's facilities were in its centre.
In the Sherford development, which will be completed by 2016, eighty per cent of the dwellings will be within five minutes' walk of main community facitilies.
Mr Tyler said: "With Sherford, there will be an early provision of schools, shops, community halls and open spaces.
"With Ivybridge, its town centre and employment were zoned in such a way that people have to use their cars to get anywhere.
"We want people to think that Sherford's a great place to live, because they don't have to get into their cars."
Town councillors recently tried to negotiate for a minor injuries unit to be sited there, but it was pointed out that the planned Sherford community would include a new health centre, which incorporates a minor injuries unit.
Ivybridge mayor Marc Chapman said he accepted that the new settlement would get more facilities than his home town.
He said: "What we haven't got, Sherford will get, as I've already said.
"But we can't change the past, and in any case, the town hasn't got the land to build any new facilities.
"What we must do is focus on what we've got and enhance it."
The admission over Ivybridge was made as South Hams District Council launched its Sherford Area Action Plan for public consultation, which will last six weeks.
The project, involving South Hams District Council, Plymouth City Council, the developer Red Tree, the Prince's Foundation, Devon County Council and many other public-sector bodies, has been refined over several years.
The district council's head of community regeneration, Lee Bray, said: "The launch of this final consultation will take us another step closer to realising this important project.
"The council is determined that Sherford will be a flagship development: highly sustainable, well- designed, balanced and inclusive, and, most importantly, delivering a large number of affordable homes.
"Once the six-week period of consultation is complete, the Government's independent inspector will be appointed, and, at the beginning of next year, the inspector will begin to test the soundness of the plans with a comprehensive and thorough examination of the submitted document, including any public representations made during this consultation period."
South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council have been working together for more than six years to bring forward the plan for Sherford, consulting a wide range of local community representatives and stakeholders through workshops and discussion.
The new community will be well linked to Plymouth by fast and frequent public transport.
The development will include new homes, workspaces, shops, schools, health and leisure facilities, and a large community park. It could also include up to five small-scale wind turbines. It is hoped the development will cut the number of households presently on the district council's waiting list for affordable housing - currently 2,000.
A website dedicated to Sherford has been prepared where all the information, consultation, news and views relating to the development can be found; go to www.southhams.gov.uk/sherford