Residents in Haverhill, Suffolk, are raising concerns that a massive new housing development proposed for the local area will not be affordable for people living in the town.
Developers Shiv Malik and Joseph Reeve met with the public at the Haverhill Arts Centre on 2 March 2026 to discuss the plans. The project, known as Forest City 1, would see up to 400,000 homes built on 45,000 acres of farmland between Haverhill and Newmarket.
During the meeting, the developers said that homes would be priced at approximately £350,000 using a community land trust, where the land is managed by the community to help keep costs lower. However, many residents argue this price is still far too high for local workers and will not help those currently struggling to buy a home.
West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy has voiced strong opposition to the plan, calling the project unrealistic. He has launched a petition against the development that has already been signed by more than 1,000 people who worry about the loss of rural villages and fields.
The developers claim the project would bring a long-awaited train station to Haverhill, along with four hospitals and thousands of construction jobs. They also plan to plant 12,000 acres of new woodland as part of the proposed city.
