RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

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Section 13 Sub-Areas and Key Centres for Development and Change
POLICY BSE1: Bury St Edmunds Key Centre for Development and Change
Provision should be made for further employment, service and housing development that reflects the role of Bury St
Edmunds as an important service centre between Cambridge and Ipswich. Employment growth should be of a
scale to minimise the volume of long distance out-commuting from the town.
Priority will be given to the development of vacant and underused land that respects and enhances the historic
town centre. Development and transport strategies should promote a shift to non-car modes of travel.
13.48 Bury St Edmunds is the sub-regional centre for west Suffolk. Expansion over recent years has been boosted by its strong
and diverse economy, particularly attractive historic urban environment, and location between Cambridge and Ipswich on
the railway line and A14 at its junction with a number of radial routes.
13.49 Reflecting the role of Bury St Edmunds as a service centre, housing growth should be accompanied by employment and
service growth. There is likely to be potential for additional growth beyond 2016, to be tested through the further RSS
review, but this will require infrastructure capacity issues to be resolved.
POLICY CH1: Chelmsford Key Centre for Development and Change
The strategy for Chelmsford should:
• provide for substantial growth of housing within an allocation of 16,000 for the District as a whole;
• strengthen the town’s role as county town and sub-regional centre for central and northern Essex and centre for
primary health care and further and higher education;
• further increase and diversify its employment base, building on strengths in areas such as business and financial
services, manufacturing, research and development, and retailing and town centre uses;
• maximise the re-use of previously developed land and provide for sustainable urban extensions; and
• assist the development of more sustainable transport systems within the town, capitalise on and improve its
strategic links to London and other regional centres.
13.50 Chelmsford has substantial potential to develop further as an important economic development and growth focus for
central Essex, reflecting its roles as a county and university town and its diverse economy with strengths in retailing,
administration, manufacturing, finance and a strategic location on the A12 and Great Eastern railway line. The strategy
will further enhance these roles, move the town towards sustainable transport with high quality public transport, cycling
and walking and provide the potential for further growth in the longer term.