Development Opportunity

An excellent opportunity to acquire a centrally located parcel of land with development potential in the historic town of Newmarket.

Offers are sought on a conditional and unconditional basis, with a preference for enquiries on a subject-to-planning basis.

* NEWMARKET High Street – 0.25 miles to the south / 5-minute walk
* NEWMARKET Train Station – 0.75 miles to the south / 18-minute walk
* CAMBRIDGE – 12 miles to the west – 20 mins by train / 30 mins by car
* BURY ST. EDMUNDS – 12 miles to the east – 20 mins by train / 20 mins by car
* STANSTED AIRPORT - 26 miles to the south – 1hr by train / 40 mins by car
* LONDON KINGS CROSS – 1h36 mins by train

LOCATION
The site is located in central Newmarket, the international home of horse racing. Newmarket offers a wide range of residential and leisure facilities. It is a five-minute walk north of Newmarket High Street and a three-minute walk from Waitrose. It is an 18-minute walk to Newmarket station. Bury St Edmunds is approximately 12 miles to the east and Cambridge lies approximately 12 miles to the west which provide a wider range of services and amenities.

DEVELOPMENT LAND
The land to the rear of the residential properties fronting Fordham Road has development potential (subject to planning) and is shown edged red on the Outline Plans. It extends to approximately 0.51 ha (1.27 ac) and is a roughly square parcel of private open space lined with trees. Access is provided from Fordham Road by a track on the southern perimeter of the site.

To the south-east of the site is St Louis Catholic Academy. To the north are residential buildings, including the barn conversion and new-build development known as the Maltings. The western boundary of the site is a tree-lined watercourse which runs through Newmarket from the north-west.

WHOLE SITE
The seller wishes to realise the value of the Development Land and has a preference for a subject to planning contract but will also consider unconditional offers for the sale of the whole site.

The whole site extends to 1.52 ha (3.76 acres) in total (in blue on the Outline Plan), which includes the parcel of land with development potential, and three existing residential properties and their plots:

* Louisville House (0.555 ha / 1.37 ac) is a substantial detached former convent building with five large bedrooms and ancillary residential and office accommodation in an extension.
* Sussex Lodge (0.131 ha / 0.32 ac) is a former stable block arranged as three separate residential dwellings.
* Colmar Cottage (0.252 ha / 0.62 ac) is a detached two-bedroom cottage.

The site was previously used as the facilities and residential accommodation of a Convent. The properties are currently tenanted. Floorplans and photographs of the properties are available in the Information Pack.

For information on Residential Sales values for the residential dwellings, please contact Bidwells Sales Negotiator Warrick Anderson on 07973 842192 / Warrick.Anderson@Bidwells.co.uk.

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING
The site is within the jurisdiction of West Suffolk District Council (formerly Forest Heath District Council). West Suffolk is undergoing a Local Plan review the LPA is currently reviewing the call for sites submissions. The existing Local Plan for Forest Heath was adopted in 2010. Newmarket is defined as a ‘Market Town’ in the Core Strategy (Policy CS1) of the Local Plan and is considered to be one of the more sustainable locations for new development within the former Forest Heath area, because of the range of services and facilities available within the town and its excellent transport links.

The site falls within the Housing Settlement Boundary of Newmarket and is therefore open to development in principle. It falls within the Newmarket Conservation Area. The use class for all buildings on site is Residential (C3).

There is an opportunity (subject to planning) for retirement, care or residential purposes, and enquires on a subject-to-planning basis are encouraged.

Bidwells Planning has prepared a Planning Appraisal for the site. This is available in the Information Pack.

HERITAGE
The site is within a Conservation Area and the residential buildings have historically been identified as having a positive contribution to the Conservation Area. Therefore, scheme design will need to be mindful of the heritage implications. Bidwells Heritage has a Heritage Appraisal regarding heritage matters that need to be considered. This can be found in the Information Pack.

ACCESS
Access is via Fordham Road, the A142, which serves as one of the main routes into the town centre and provides a link to Junction 37 of the A14. The site has two access points from Fordham Road: the northern access serves Louisville House and the southern access serves the properties and land to the rear. There is an Access Appraisal available in the Information Pack.

ARBORICULTURAL
There are extensive trees on site. There was an Arboricultural survey in 2015 and an informal inspection in 2019 which outlines the condition of the trees, available in the Information Pack. As the Site is within a Conservation Area, parties will need to satisfy themselves with the requirements for building in proximity to trees.

FLOODING
The westernmost edge of the site is within Flood Zones 2 and 3. The remainder of the site is within flood zone 1. A Flood Zone map is below.

TENURE
The site is held under several titles under the ownership of the seller. The Title Registers are available in the Information Pack.

The freehold of the Development Land is offered for sale with vacant possession on completion.

There are existing tenants in situ in the residential properties. Please contact Eliza Griffiths for more information on the tenancies or on vacant possession for the whole site.

WAYLEAVES, EASEMENTS, COVENANTS AND RIGHTS OF WAY
The site is sold subject to all wayleaves, easements, covenants and rights of way, whether or not disclosed.

INFORMATION PACK
The Information Pack contains copies of planning, technical and legal documents relating to the site. Interested parties will be deemed to have submitted proposals in the full knowledge of all documents within the Information Pack. Please contact Eliza Griffiths (eliza.griffiths@bidwells.co.uk) to obtain access to the Information Pack.

METHOD OF SALE
The freehold of the Development Land is offered for sale by Informal Tender.

Conditional offers for the Development Land are to be submitted in writing to Bidwells, Bidwell House, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 9LD by 12 noon Friday 21 April 2023.

The seller will also consider unconditional offers for the whole site.

All proposals are to be in writing in accordance with the Bidding Guidelines contained in the online Information Pack. Emailed offers will be accepted. The Seller reserves the right to reject any or all offers.

Proposals should be clearly marked ‘The Convent. Newmarket – for the attention of Eliza Griffiths.’

NEW HOMES
Bidwells has evidence of new home sales in the locality. For specific queries with regards to resale values, please contact Rebecca Wilson on 07919 211832.

VIEWINGS
Viewing is strictly by appointment. Interested parties must be accompanied on site at all times, as organised by prior appointment. A viewing day will be organised for the property with further details to be provided in due course. Please contact Eliza Griffiths 07469 697481 if you would like to register your interest to attend this viewing day.

Parties should take due care for their own personal safety when inspecting the site.

VAT
We understand that the seller has not elected to opt the Property to tax, therefore VAT will not be charged in addition to the purchase price.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Any fixtures, fittings or equipment shown are not necessarily included in the sale.