Plan B’ submitted for eco-town site

8 May 2009

A POTENTIAL eco-town developer has revealed it is pushing ahead with a ‘plan B’ for the Long Marston site currently earmarked for a 6,000 home eco-town.

In a completely separate exercise from the Government’s contentious eco-town housing project, developer St Modwen has submitted planning proposals for a mixed-use leisure development on its 478-acre portion of the 600-acre site which falls on the Worcestershire/Warwickshire boundary.

St Modwen, which acquired the land in 2004, has liaised with Stratford District Council to draw up plans which include 150 self-catering lodges, 150 holiday homes, up to 500 houses, a caravan park and leisure hub, an outdoor activity centre including football and cricket pitches, as well as a rail heritage centre incorporating local rail restoration work. The current 800,000 sq ft of employment space will also be retained, safeguarding about 500 jobs.

St Modwen stressed that pushing ahead with its ‘masterplan’ would not impact on its eco-town ambitions.

John Dodds, regional director for St Modwen, said: “Submitting this planning application in no way diminishes or detracts from our involvement with the Bird Group on Middle Quinton.

“Both projects will continue to run independently but in parallel, as they have always done.

“The difference between the two sites is the masterplan has always stuck to a firm deadline, given that the current temporary planning consent expires at the end of December 2009 whereas the deadlines for the eco-towns are less precise.”

BARD eco-town campaigners have welcomed St Modwen’s masterplan proposals but baulked at the number of houses they intend to build.

David Bliss, BARD chairman, said: “BARD has always been in favour of appropriate development on this site, but where we part company with St Modwen is on the proposed construction of 500 residential homes.

“St Modwen and Stratford District Council both know such a proposal is wholly against local planning policy since there is no local need at Long Marston.”