THE DEVELOPMENT of Stratford’s run-down former Cattle Market site looks likely to finally be rubber-stamped.
Stratford District Council’s Planning Committee West is expected to grant planning permission for the building of 189 one, two and three-bedroom homes – 58 of which will be available to buy on the open market, eight for shared ownership and 21 through affordable rent.
The remainder will include 102 independent living apartments – for shared ownership and 30 for affordable rent – for those over the age of 55.
The plans also include 148 parking places, and paths to the neighbouring station and nearby hospital.
In addition to the homes, Orbit’s £40million plans includes a play area, café, and shop.
The major site has been subject to various planned developments over the course of the past 15 years – none of which came off.
Orbit Homes bought the land on Alcester Road last year from Redrow, who originally took over the site in 2007 but abandoned plans following a number of applications and appeals.
The site stood derelict following the market’s closure in 2001 until Redrow bought it for £9.1million in 2007 having secured permission to build 197 homes.
Their original plan included affordable homes and a £700,000 contribution to local services but the recession left the scheme economically unviable, and a revised application was rejected by Stratford District Council.
But the latest plans have been welcomed by Stratford Town Council and Stratford Voice among others.
Anthony Holt, head of development at Orbit Homes, told The Observer it was their vision to “transform the former Cattle Market into a vibrant and prosperous place where people are proud to live”, and hoped work would start shortly if planning permission was granted.
