3. Housing

Aims and Objectives

3.1 To meet the requirements for housing in such a way that is sustainable and will best serve the whole community.

3.2 To achieve this aim the key objectives are:

• a) to ensure that enough land is available to meet the identified housing need;
  b) to concentrate housing development in the main urban areas, giving priority to re-using previously developed land and buildings within urban areas; and
  c) to make sure a variety of housing is provided to meet the community's needs.

3.3 St Edmundsbury is located in an area of strong economic growth. Not only is pressure for new housing driven by local needs, but also by the significant numbers of people moving into the area to service the growing economy of the Cambridge sub-region. Planning for new homes in St Edmundsbury over the period to 2016 will focus on providing a greater choice of housing to meet the needs of all in the community. At the same time, it will be necessary to encourage sustainable patterns of development by promoting housing on previously developed land in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill and by specifying higher standards of design.