Residents of Higham, a quiet Suffolk village with a population of about 155, have expressed shock at early plans for a housing development that one local said would 'swallow' their community. The proposals, submitted by developer Pigeon as part of West Suffolk Council's Call for Sites process, are not yet a formal planning application but were shared at a recent parish meeting.
Proposal Details
According to minutes from the meeting, the proposed development spans around 2,600 acres and covers the whole of Higham Estate. A map presented to residents showed a large mixed-use plot for housing, infrastructure including schools and healthcare, as well as areas for agriculture and potential solar energy generation. The exact number of homes is not known, but locals speculate it could be thousands.
Local Reactions
Damian Penfold, a long-time resident, told the BBC that the proposals were a 'huge shock' and would see the village 'completely swallowed'. He estimated that 2,500 new homes could add 5,000 residents. Beccy Hopfensperger, a Conservative county councillor, questioned how the size of the settlement would impact the 'character' of the rural area and whether infrastructure could cope. Roger Dicker, the independent West Suffolk district councillor, said he was 'taken aback', adding: 'It's quite scary; their whole way of life changes.'
Government Housing Targets
The Labour government has set a target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current parliament in 2029. To meet this, West Suffolk would need to add 1,195 homes per year, compared to an average of 705 built between 2022 and 2025.
Developer's Response
A spokesperson for Pigeon said the company had submitted proposals for a 'sustainable new community' as part of the call for sites, one of the first steps in reviewing the district's local plan. They added that all landowners had been invited to put forward sites, and further information would be shared through community engagement.
