New homes for Town

By N Cutting at 09:00 on 03/03/10

Re-post

Down the grapevine I've heard that Ashlyns Farm has been sold.
Also down same grapevine I've heard the track between Chesham Road and Swing Gate Lane is to be upgraded to a proper tar-maced road and a pile of homes built in the area bounded by the A41, Swing Gate Lane, Thomas Corum School (maybe Ashlyns School as well) and Ashlyns Hall.

I wonder if the planning people will insist on a proportion of social housing and spaces for travellers? As these are the current proposed requirements for any new multi-home developments. The area character study will need to be taken into account (farmland/open space all around - not quite in character by any stretch of the imagination!).

If we are not careful, Sugar Lane (aka Long Green), which is a public hiighway,will need to be tuned from a bridgeway into a proper road capable of taking 44 tonne lorries which in turn will mean upgrading the single track of Swing Gate Lane which will encourage the development of the land between the A41 and Upper Hall Park.

Aren't you glad you don't live on that end/side of town?

By N Cutting at 09:00 on 03/03/10
Report
As you don't seem to be able to edit stories:
Tar-maced should be tarmac

and

If we are not careful, Sugar Lane (aka Long Green), which is a public highway,will need to be turned from a bridleway into a proper road capable of taking 44 tonne lorries which in turn will mean upgrading the single track of Swing Gate Lane which will encourage the development of the land between the A41 and Upper Hall Park.

Sorry about that, I really shouldn't be let out on my own!

By N Cutting at 09:16 on 03/03/10
Report
So if they get a new road does that mean that there will be new homes and how many of them and will they be cheep or expensive?????????

By TomTom32 at 08:50 on 07/03/10
Report
I thought there must be someone out there who cares more about our town than eating drinking and being miserable - sorry, merry.

I hear that the company who owns the land is a property developer who obviously hasn't bought the land as a farm or to live in.
The local plan show it as green belt, but they have made enquiries to EERA and County and DBC about getting that changed - which would mean that it is far more likely to be built on in the middle distance.
The part of Ashlyns Farm that has been 'sold' is the part that faces Chesham road (where the horses used to graze) between Ashyns School and Ashlyns Nursing Home, although I believe the whole site is owned by the same organisation.

The Borough Council have already suggested that to comply with the current governments guidelines of more affordable homes and more spaces for travellers, that any developer will have to include in any development plans a % of affordable/social housing as well as a % number of spaces for travellers within the curtlidge of any site.

It looks as though the vultures are hovering on the land between the A41 and the current 'building line' along Shootersway, Hilltop and Hall Park. The land in Durrents Lane was always designated for future housing from the BUDC days when Westfield was built.

We must be on our guard as we may suddenly find development is allowed without any improvement in infrastructure. The Stevenage expansion is already on hold as the government takes the attitude of build 1st, then pay for new roads/schools/drainage etc.
We already have problems with open space, electricity/water and gas supplies without concerned over the Victorian sewage pipes already struggling.

By N Cutting at 09:57 on 07/03/10
Report