Part of an ongoing consultation process, www.hanleygrange.co.uk provides more information on the proposals including a description of the project, a preliminary timeline and answers to frequently asked questions. Visitors to the website are also encouraged to share their thoughts on the proposed project.
Chosen from 57 development proposals submitted to the Communities and Local Government department, Hanley Grange has been confirmed as one of 15 potential sites for new sustainable, zero carbon developments which can help to meet the Government’s priority objective of three million new houses by 2020 while also achieving the highest environmental and design standards.
The proposals at Hanley Grange include at least 8,000 new homes, of which around 3,000 will be affordable housing, along with a secondary school, up to five primary schools, a health centre and a range of community facilities, shops and public spaces. All of the social and physical infrastructure for the scheme will be delivered at no cost to taxpayers.
Bob Sellwood, from the project’s planning consultants Sellwood Planning, commented: “Following the inclusion of Hanley Grange on the shortlist for eco-town status, the launch of the website is the first step in informing people about our plans for the area.
“Although our proposals are still evolving, we are keen to listen to local views on an eco-town at Hanley Grange and will be holding a series of consultation events over the coming months. As more information becomes available we will be posting it on the website, which should be the first port of call for people who are interested in the project.
“We believe that once people find out more about our proposals they will see the significant benefits that an eco-town at Hanley Grange can deliver for the local community and the regional economy. The project has the potential to deliver a new type of community that can lead the way in tackling climate change while also addressing the severe local housing shortage.
“It will also provide a much needed boost to the regional economy by enabling people to live near to where they work within the South Cambridgeshire high-tech cluster. The development will meet the highest environmental standards and be an example for future developments across the UK and the world.”
Dates for a series of public consultation events will be announced soon. The short-list of 15 will be reduced to 10 by the Communities and Local Government department later this year.