Growth is good news but not at any cost

Significant developments are springing up across Peterborough. The massive housing and industry being planned at ‘Great Haddon’ to the south of the city is perhaps the largest alongside the redevelopment of the city’s old hospitals sites and the Fletton Keys riverside development off London Road. But as we report this week there are many other significant housing developments in the offing. The new draft Local Plan for Peterborough also includes proposals for a 2,500 home development north of Castor and Ailsworth, 370 properties in Eye, Thorney and Helpston and 400 homes by the East of England Showground, near Alwalton. This week we also report on the expansion of Serpentine Green where 100 new jobs will be created and that’s with plans for redeveloping North Westgate already on the table. Overall this is great news for Peterborough... developers and retailers are finding the city an attractive prospect. The location of new developments is important... MP Shailesh Vara was very quick to announce his objection to the plans near Castor because of their impact on the area. A consultation on specific sites will take place in December 2016 before a final version of the Local Plan is made public in Spring next year for final consultation. That phase is critical and every community should have their say because the devil will be in the detail... and the detail on much of this development is critical to the city’s future. The right housing mix, that supports the attraction of major employers and the continued growth in small and medium businesses that has been a feature of the city’s economy is vital. Ensuring local communities retain their character and identity equally so. We need development but not at any cost - it must be the right development for the city.