Hundreds of jobs to be created in Hackbridge's sustainable suburb plans (From Sutton Guardian)

Hundreds of jobs to be created in Hackbridge's sustainable suburb plans

12:00pm Thursday 28th January 2010

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A multi-million pound development planned for Hackbridge will create the UK’s first sustainable suburb and generate 527 new jobs.

A £150m outline planning application to regenerate the 7.7 hectare Felnex Industrial Estate was submitted to Sutton Council by Schroder Property Investment Management on behalf of Hackbridge Property Unit Trust.

If plans are approved, by 2015 the desolate industrial estate will be transformed into a thriving town centre with 792 new homes, a community centre, doctor’s surgery, offices, shops, a supermarket, care home, bus interchange and several cafes and restaurants.

There will be open spaces for allotments, children’s play areas, farmers’ markets, park benches and a “business forest” near the office area, where fruit trees will be planted for everyone to use.

All building materials will be sourced as locally as possible and homes will be energy efficient. The development will include district energy production from renewable resources.

Head of asset management at Schroder Property Investment Management, Neil Meredith, said: “Our vision is to create a sustainable, innovative development that will spearhead Hackbridge’s regeneration.

“This development will provide a better place to live, work and play, and will remove an eyesore, bring new family homes, viable long term jobs and shopping opportunities back to the centre of Hackbridge.

“Landscaping is a vital part of our proposals and we will ensure that we create a high quality environment consistent with the borough overall.”

The plans were drawn up in response to Sutton Council’s Hackbridge Masterplan and the One Planet Living Sutton Charter, to make Sutton the UK’s first sustainable suburb.

Executive member for planning, regeneration and economic development Lyn Gleeson said: “Our plans for Hackbridge represent one of the most prestigious, place-changing and innovative projects in the UK. Our brief is a national first, will transform this part of Sutton, benefit the whole neighbourhood and make Hackbridge a much more desirable place to live.

“We want Hackbridge to become the UK’s most sustainable place to live work and visit. This means zero carbon homes, an integrated approach to travel and sustainable business and food schemes.”

A four week public consultation on the plans will be held in coming months. If the outline application is approved, a more detailed application will be made in 2011/12.

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