Martlesham Heath Householders

13.27 Martlesham Heath has been progressively developed as a "new village" on part of the former Martlesham airfield in accordance with a Master Plan, and completion is close at hand. Basically, the overall physical and design principle which emanates from the original social concept is one of a series of hamlets separated from each other by wide areas of open space. The District Council has sought, and will continue to uphold the principles of this concept, and, accordingly, once these hamlets have been fully developed there will be no potential for further development other than ancillary to recreation of an outdoor nature. To do otherwise would be regarded as adversely affecting the village and its open setting.

13.28 Consequently, the open areas, including an area designated as part of the Ipswich Heaths SSSI, have been defined as Areas to be Protected from Development and these are shown on the Proposals Map.

13.29 As stated earlier, the protection of the areas of open space around the residential hamlets and the village centre is essential if the original principles of the village concept of Martlesham Heath are to be retained. This equally applies to the open and wooded areas which surround the village, including the land to the north and north-west of the Police Headquarters. With the development of Grange Farm west of Dobbs Lane, there will be increasing pressure on the open land lying either side of this road, which will emphasise the need for effective management and control.

13.30 The area of woodland lying to the west of Dobbs Lane contains two groups of Bronze Age or Anglo-Saxon burial mounds, as well as several other flattened burial mounds. The retention of this area of woodland as an area of informal public open space, linked to the suggested landscaping scheme to be provided on the southern edge of the Grange Farm development, will assist in the preservation of these Ancient Monuments. Although identified as part of the Area to be Protected from Development, this area will also be protected from any form of development, by the application of Policy AP7.