Hawksmead Shows How Community Has Helped Shape Plans For Oakham Development

Development company Hawksmead is staging a public exhibition to show how comments from local people have helped to shape its plans for a proposed major development at Oakham.

The latest plans for the Oakham North development – which could provide up to 1,000 new homes on land between the existing town and the new bypass – will be on display in No 1 Court, Oakham Castle, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. They will also be available from the company’s website at www.hawksmead.co.uk.

The plans will be displayed alongside a report into the company’s consultations with local people, communities and politicians since the plans were first unveiled in April of last year. Those consultations have included four public exhibitions of the proposals as well as a presentation to Oakham Town Council.

More than 80 per cent of people who expressed a view during the consultation process supported the proposals and more than 90 per cent supported the planned mix of facilities.

The most frequently raised concerns were a need for additional medical facilities, a quality supermarket and discount shops and a desire for ‘buffers’ between the new development and established settlements at Langham, Barleythorpe and Oakham.

The revised proposals which Hawksmead is now exhibiting show how those issues have been dealt with – including highlighting proposed sites for new shopping facilities that include a supermarket and discount food store.

Paul Bywater, development director at Hawksmead, said: “We have been encouraged by the continuing high level of interest in the proposals and the high quality and considered opinions and discussions that have taken place since the consultation commenced.

“These comments and opinions have informed the design process and have helped to shape and influence various elements of the scheme in order to address issues and priorities raised by the community.

“It has been very encouraging to observe the consistently high level of support for the proposed development.”

In addition to around 1,000 houses and new shopping facilities the planned development includes new offices, parks and open spaces, children’s play areas and a new local centre. The plans also provide improved transport links, including new cycle, footpath and bus routes.

Around 300 of the new homes could be subsidised to make them either available for low-cost renting or for some form of ‘equity share’ scheme, under which people buy part of the home and rent the balance – giving an opportunity for people who would otherwise not be able to afford to buy a home to get onto the property ladder.

As part of the proposed development there would be a new permanent enhanced home for the Rutland County Show and new improved facilities for the town’s football, rugby and other clubs.

Hawksmead now intends to do further detailed work on the plans before submitting a formal planning application to Rutland County Council later this year.

Paul Bywater added: “This development would form a sustainable urban extension to Oakham located within and adjacent to the new bypass and would complement Rutland County Council’s “Big Build” proposals for The Vale of Catmose College.

“New homes would be provided in a sustainable location adjacent to an employment area and be served by an enhanced public transport system.

“Due to its location, developing this site would mean minimal disruption to local residents during construction.”