Development Control - 9 August

Two early comments on the fortcoming meeting:

1. The Kimpton Road application broadly makes sense. It would be good to see the whole site north and west of Kimpton Park Way to be properly landscaped rather than the likely piecemeal approach we will see over the coming years as this application illustrates. Maybe Councillors in now marginal Stonecot ward will press for this otherwise others will no doubt make an issue of it?

2. Lets hope Salem doesn't come to the Hamptons, but I am concerned that affordable housing is being stuck in a corner of the site. You only have to read page 27 of the 29/7-4/8 Edition of the Economist magazine to see that there is, in the words of the Nat West advert, a "better way" regarding the integration of affordable housing into housing sites. I also hope the way the whole site is managed ensures that the Hamptons does not see affordable housing sites like this as second class citizens in the development and the Hamptons residents association welcomes them with open arms. We will wait and see.