INTRODUCTION

i) This part of the Local Plan contains policies and proposals for specific areas of the District. Unlike the first part, which dealt with general policies applicable to the whole District, this part is site or area specific. In order to obtain a comprehensive view of how the Local Plan will apply to a particular area, however, the two parts of the Local Plan need to be read together.

ii) The Areas themselves have been defined to accord with the Policy Areas, as identified in the Suffolk Structure Plan and shown on Diagram 1. The only exception to this is the Woodbridge Policy Area, as defined in the Structure Plan, which for the purposes of this Local Plan has been split into two areas, namely, the Deben Peninsula and the Woodbridge Area. This is because of the clear distinction between the character of the two areas and the need specifically to address the problems and pressures on Woodbridge and the other settlements along this part of the A12 within the regional catchment area of Ipswich.

iii) The Areas are as follows:

Structure Plan Policy Area	Local Plan Area
Debenham/Grundisburgh (SCDC part)	Grundisburgh Area	(Chapter 12)
Felixstowe	Felixstowe Peninsula	(Chapter 11)
Halesworth/Saxmundham (SCDC part)	Blyth Area	(Chapter 9)
Ipswich	Ipswich Eastern Fringe	(Chapter 13)
Woodbridge	(Deben Peninsula	(Chapter 10)
	(Woodbridge Area	(Chapter 14)

THE INFLUENCE OF IPSWICH

iv) The identification of a particular area does not imply that it is mutually exclusive of the others. There is clearly an overlap and this is particularly pronounced in respect of the Areas which come within the influence of Ipswich.

v) Ipswich is the County Town and a Regional Centre for employment, shopping, leisure and social/health facilities. Its catchment area extends well into the Suffolk Coastal District and would certainly include the towns of Felixstowe, Woodbridge and other settlements along the A12 and the railway line to Lowestoft, both being primary communication and commuting routes.

vi) The close proximity of Ipswich to such areas considerably relieves the pressure that would normally be felt for further housing, employment and commercial development.

vii) Within the catchment area of Ipswich there are large-scale housing developments (such as Grange Farm on the eastern side) currently under construction, and further growth is anticipated as a result of the Third Alteration to the Structure Plan.

viii) There are also a number of industrial estates in and around the Town, both existing and planned. This Local Plan itself proposes a significant extension to Ransomes Park (paras 13.37 to 13.40).

ix) The presence of opportunities within Ipswich strengthens the District Council's objectives in respect of conserving the unique environment of its Towns, Villages and Countryside, including particularly sensitive areas lying adjacent to the built-up area of Ipswich, and forming its landscape setting. This is especially acute in the historic town of Woodbridge, policies for which are contained in Chapter 14.