Forest City is a privately proposed, large-scale eco-city designed to house up to one million residents on 45,000 acres of farmland on the Suffolk-Cambridgeshire border, between Haverhill and Newmarket. Promoted by Albion City Development Corporation, the unapproved scheme features 400,000 homes, 12,000 acres of new forest, and bespoke Community Land Trust ownership.
Current Status and Controversy
Proposal Submission: The developers submitted a detailed economic and planning report to the UK’s Housing Secretary, requesting bespoke legislation to bypass standard local planning.
Government Stance: The UK Ministry of Housing has poured cold water on the idea, stating the developers have not demonstrated viability and that there are currently no plans to establish a Development Corporation for the project.
Local Opposition: The scheme faces intense pushback from local residents, agricultural communities, and the West Suffolk MP (Nick Timothy), who cite a lack of local infrastructure (like water and GP services), the destruction of ancient villages, and inadequate official planning.