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Members of Babergh District Council’s Strategy Committee yesterday (June 19th) gave the thumbs up for negotiations to begin into the sale of two parcels of land at Belle Vue – as part of a wider scheme aimed at providing Sudbury town centre with new state-of-the-art services.
Councillors have authorised Babergh officers to enter into negotiations with the Hardwick House Surgery for the development of a new building combining a medical practice and community rooms on the site of the existing Belle Vue House. The existing users of this property – West Suffolk College, the Stour Valley Old People’s Centre and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau – have been kept informed of the initial approaches and will continue to be involved as more detailed negotiations take place.
At the same time, options are being explored which involve offering McCarthy & Stone land at the same site for residential retirement homes in return for Babergh acquiring the company’s land next to the bus station.
The acquisition of this site – which has been earmarked for a mixed use involving retail, leisure and residential features in the Babergh Local Plan - would better integrate Sudbury’s existing transport and shopping facilities and its and community life a into a unified whole.
Cllr. Nick Ridley, Babergh’s Strategy Committee Chairman explained “what started off as a speculative approach by the Hardwick House practice to buy a freehold site has developed into a much broader and visionary opportunity to realise an improved Sudbury town centre encompassing better and more accessible facilities for all. The proposed land swap would double the benefit to the town of this once in a generation opportunity”.
“Our priority is now to fully engage with Sudbury Town Council to partner with us and others in helping to develop this wonderful opportunity for the town”.
Both Hardwick House and McCarthy & Stone have indicated their support in principle for such a scheme and are looking to developing detailed designs once negotiations into the principles of the scheme have been agreed with Babergh. ENDS
View the Strategy Committee minutes.
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