THE FUTURE OF BURY ST EDMUNDS We, the undersigned residents of Bury St Edmunds and surrounding villages reject the proposed sites for exponential housing growth and development contained in St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s ‘Core Strategy’ and Bury St Edmunds Vision 2031 documents. • Whilst recognising the need for affordable homes for rent we reject the 5,900 allocation of houses to the town (a 31% increase on current total housing numbers), and the consequent 15,000-population increase as damaging to the unique character of our fine historic town and its environs. We believe that proposed development on this scale is unsustainable in terms of infrastructure and natural resources. • We challenge St Edmundsbury and Suffolk County Councils to explain fully how they will resolve current and future infrastructure deficiencies, particularly regarding highways and provision for other public services. • We reject the data claimed to illustrate local housing demand and St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s declaration that unlimited growth in Bury St Edmunds is acceptable. • We object that during the Local Development Framework (LDF) process, insufficient consideration was given to the well-being of existing (and future) communities and residents; and that the option to develop a new settlement was wrongly dismissed by the Council. • We protest that during the LDF consultation process, the high level of objection from within the community was disregarded. • We welcome the Government statement that Councils will be allowed a 12-month period to adapt or revise Local Plans and call on the council to do so in accordance with community wishes; and scale down proposals to adhere to the principle of sustainable development outlined in the Government’s new National Development Framework.

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