Chilton Woods; the County Council take the lead.

Yesterday Cabinet at the County Council voted to take the Chilton Woods Development forward by providing funding so that the Council can apply for planning permission and effectively act as the lead developer.  Since the council owns over 60% of the site, and stands to benefit the most from its development, this seems a logical way to take the scheme forward.

As we were reminded yesterday, the Chilton Woods saga has now gone on for about 14 years. Through bust and boom the scheme has been included in various local structure plans.  However, developers have come and gone and the green fields remain undisturbed.  The last builder, Redrow, pulled out owing to concerns about viability, and also, probably, because the company felt it had more profitable prospects elsewhere.

I have no doubts that the County Council will want to ensure a decent return on its assets.  However, at yesterday’s meeting,  I and other local members such as Peter Beer, Colin Spence  and John Sayers, all expressed the hope that, with the County Council in the driving seat, Chilton Woods will turn out to be more than ‘just another development’.

It has always been the stated intention of the County Council that Chilton will be an ‘exemplar’ scheme, offering not just housing and industry, but also community assets for Chilton and a good deal of open space and woodland.  It is of course a great opportunity to deliver not just these benefits, but also to incorporate features that make the development sustainable:  a decent transport scheme, active travel opportunities, and the early incorporation of community safety features for example.    Such additions do not come cheaply however, and may well eat into the profit margins of a commercial operator to an unacceptable degree. 

It is hoped that the County Council will now be able to grab this unique opportunity to create a positive environment for future residents of Sudbury and Chilton, and also to make a return for the taxpayer.