Learn about our plans for an exciting new community in Martlesham
Our public consultation on the first phases of development at Brightwell Lakes has now closed. If you have any further comments or questions about the proposals, please email these to [email protected] or call our free phone number 0800 994 9322.
If you are interested in a new home, please click the 'Register your interest' button to the right and you will be kept up to date with the latest news.
Our proposal for Brightwell Lakes
Overview
Welcome to our website that explains how we are starting to bring forward a new, sustainable 2,000 home community at Brightwell Lakes following our purchase of the site in Martlesham, Suffolk.
An outline planning permission was approved in 2018 by Suffolk Coastal District Council.
The outline permission establishes the following principles as part of a mixed-use development:
- Development of the site for up to 2000 dwellings to be brought forward as individual phases
- Mixture of other uses on the site such as employment, local centres, school, green infrastructure, sports ground and play areas, allotments, heritage park and community orchards
- Access to the site from the A12, Ipswich Road and also connections to Gloster Road
- The need for walking and cycling links through the site and providing connections to other areas
The site will now be brought forward in phases. Each phase will be subject to what is called a Reserved Matters Application (RMA) that will be submitted to East Suffolk Council. The purpose of an RMA is to provide the details on matters such as design and layout, enabling the development to proceed.
The first phase of the masterplan will deliver 317 high-quality homes, public open spaces and allotments. We will also bring forward new infrastructure, including new roads, footways and cycle connections.
You can find out more about our proposals by downloading our consultation boards clicking here.
The masterplan
The first phase of the masterplan will deliver 317 high-quality homes, public open spaces and allotments. We will also bring forward new infrastructure, including new roads, footways and cycle connections.
Brightwell Lakes
The development will provide the following:
Streetscenes
Homes proposed
There will be a mix of dwellings providing a variety of sizes from 1-bed apartments to 5-bed houses across both parcels to meet every need.
Our proposals
About the site
History of the site
About the site
Infrastructure and community facilities
We will ensure that the development is joined up to the existing road network, by building the accesses to the site along the A12 and Ipswich Road and creating links to the existing public rights of way.
We will also make sure that different areas of the development are well-connected, bringing forward walking and cycling links across the parcels to encourage movement by sustainable modes and connections to the central boulevard running through Brightwell Lakes.
The first community facilities will also be coming forward as part of this phase. We will provide a new area of open space within the development parcels and allotments on the A12 parcel.
Sustainability
The strategy focuses on key environmental impacts for the business; climate change; nature; and resources and waste, with specific commitments to:
Increase nature on new developments
Achieve science-based carbon reduction target
Make it easier for customers to live a more sustainable lifestyle
This is reflected in our plans for Brightwell Lakes: a development which will consider its environmental impact. We will ensure that new homes are energy efficient and help to conserve water, with sustainable drainage features also included throughout the development.
Through our partnerships with Buglife and Hedgehog Street, we aim to enhance biodiversity and create opportunities for residents to engage with nature. Specific measures will include hedgehog highways, bug hotels, bat boxes, bird boxes, bee bricks and wildlife ponds.
Community benefits
News and updates
We want to ensure that the local community is kept up to date on our progress as we look to bring forward the development at Brightwell Lakes.
Here you will find the latest news and updates about upcoming engagement events and the planning application. You can also register for updates on our home page.
- Reserved Matters application submitted on the 25th August 2021
- As part of our engagement with the local community, we hosted a public webinar on Wednesday 7th July from 18.00-19.00. If you were unable to attend, a recording of the webinar can be found here.
- Reserved Matters application approved on the 19th April 2022



