CAMPAIGNERS fighting the proposed eco-town, Hanley Grange, could be on the brink of victory after the Wellcome Trust pulled out of negotiations with developers Jarrow Investments.
Had the trust agreed a deal to sell 270 acres of its land near Hinx
ton, the town could have reached 13,000 homes.
That number must now be cut by more than a third because of the trust’s decision, but campaigners are warning those fighting the plans not to get complacent.
Lydia Macpherson, of Stop Hanley Grange group,said: “We may have won the battle but the war goes on.”
Last week campaigners revealed their anger about negotiations between the Wellcome Trust, a bio-tech company, and Jarrow Investments over plans for Jarrow to purchase the 270-acre Wellcome Trust site.
Jarrow Investments’ plans for Hanley Grange have reached the short-listing stage of the Government process but campaigners now can’t see how the developers, who are linked to Tesco, can continue.
South Cambridgeshire MP Andrew Lansley said: “The Hanley Grange promoters clearly now cannot proceed with their proposal and I look forward to the announcement that they must also withdraw the submission.
Tim Stone, Cambridgeshire councillor for the Duxford area, said: “These proposals have caused tremendous anguish for local residents and much time and resources have been spent on fighting this so-called eco-town, which now looks it may not go ahead.
“I would like to thank Wellcome for its decision.”
Cambridgeshire councillor Matt Bradney, cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: “It is amazing this ill-thought-out proposal has got as far as Government without the having the landowners signed up.”
Jarrow Investments has conceded it must look at the options before deciding whether to move forward.
Nick West, project director for Hanley Grange, said: “We are naturally disappointed the Wellcome Trust has decided not to join us in exploring the opportunity for an eco-town at Hanley Grange.
“The project team will now look at the potential options for moving forward, but no decisions have yet been made.”
The full article contains 351 words and appears in Haverhill Echo newspaper.
