21st November 2012 – Crawley News
DETAILS about Crawley’s newest neighbourhood have been on display.
Construction of the yet-to-be-named development of 1,900 homes north of Pound Hill, which has been referred to as the North East Sector, is set to start next year.
Representatives from Crawley Borough Council and developers Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes provided information on the development at two exhibitions last week in County Mall and at Milton Mount Community Centre, in Pound Hill.
First phase
Developers have since said a detailed planning application for the first phase of homes will be submitted by spring 2013. Outline planning permission was granted in February 2011.
In the first phase of construction 290 homes will be built, of which 40 per cent will be affordable housing. It is expected the first residents will move in by the end of next year.
Residents in the town’s 14th neighbourhood will also have a new health centre, primary school, shops and a community building on their doorstep.
Picturesque parkland will be created, with the Gatwick Stream running through it and footbridges installed for access.
New roads will be constructed before building starts, with junctions off Steers Lane to the north, and Crawley Avenue to the south.
Ken Glendinning, from the Homes and Communities Agency, which is working in partnership with the borough council and developers to deliver the scheme, said: ‘As well as contributing to the town’s economic growth, this neighbourhood will include new high-quality homes and community facilities.”
The complete development will be built in four phases over 12 years.
More than two thirds of the site will remain as woodland and public open space, while playing fields, a furnished children’s play area and large areas of public open space will be created.
Although new roads will be built, residents will be encouraged to walk and cycle around the neighbourhood with the construction of an extensive network of footpaths, bridges and cycle routes.
The developers say they have taken into account concerns over how a new neighbourhood will affect the surrounding environment.
A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said: “Important areas of the existing woodland are to be retained with minimal loss to important trees within the new neighbourhood.
“The proposal will also provide for new landscaping, mitigation planting and management of eristing and proposed landscaped areas.”
A worry over how animal species currently living on the land will be preserved has also been raised. Developers have pledged to create new habitats for protected species.
The potential need to relocate dormice, reptiles and bats is under consideration.
Being located near Gatwick Airport, the M23, railway lines and Manor Royal means noise issues will need to be dealt with.
Improved
New and improved building fabric will be used in the building process alongside fencing to protect housing areas. Landscaped buffer zones alongside the railway and motorway will be put in place.
A potential flood risk has been highlighted due to the Gatwick Stream and no houses will be built within the floodplain.
Artist’s Impression: illustrations of what homes to be built in the North East Sector housing development could look like and, right, the master plan for the development which will be to the north of Pound Hill