Jockey Club Estates' housing plan stalls a third time at stormy meeting

Jockey Club Estates' plans to build 145 houses for racing staff in Newmarket were put on hold at a stormy meeting of the Town Council on Monday evening.

About 150 residents who live close to the two proposed sites off the Hamilton Road in the town turned out to vent their views at the full council meeting held in the Memorial Hall.

The development, which is on JCE-owned land, include 62 homes and a warden-controlled block for 20 young people on a fresh site, and the addition of 83 houses at Phillips Close.

Before any resident could speak at the meeting, the plans, which had been submitted twice previously, were put on hold by William Gittus, group property director for the Jockey Club and planning adviser to Jockey Club Estates.

"We have decided to put this application on hold until we have further discussions and public consultation," he said.

William Gittus: 'We will have further discussions and public consultation'Credit: Chris Bourchier

"We acknowledge the concerns raised within this room and in the wider community about these proposals and we will take time to fully consider them."

Despite the announcement many residents still wanted to be heard at the meeting, including trainer Andi Brown.

He said: "Why weren't the trainers who reside on the Hamilton Road invited to this meeting as the traffic in the area is bad enough without more cars that this development will cause.

"This plan has been turned down three times and I can't understand why it keeps coming back."

Chris Wall, who was not at the meeting, is broadly in favour of the plans. He said: "We're desperate for affordable staff housing in Newmarket, especially this hostel for young people that is in the plans.

"Currently, they come out of the Racing School and have to go into bedsits, which is not really good enough."

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