Moves to build 2,000 new homes at BT’s Adastral Park site have kick-started into action – and developers believe work on the first properties could begin in early 2018.

The project was first submitted to planners back in spring 2009 but has been stalled pending the outcome of a series of challenges in the High Court.

No Adastral New Town (NANT) challenged the process by which Suffolk Coastal council selected BT’s land at Martlesham Heath as the site for major development and claimed it was unlawful.

The group also said the project would put at risk the Deben Special Protection Area for birds, one of the country’s “jewels in the crown” of nature conservation.

However, after a succession of High Court appeals at which the council’s Local Plan was found to be sound and was validated, NANT was refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

As well as 2,000 homes, BT wants to create up to 60,000sq m of extra employment space in an innovation park with linked university provision, a mixed-use local centre, school, hotel, energy centre, public park and other areas of public open space, plus further community facilities.

There would also be major changes to the road network, and an upgrading of the A12 alongside the site with new lanes and traffic lights.

South area development management team leader at Suffolk Coastal, Liz Beighton said BT had appointed contractors to work with it on the Adastral Park project and rapid progress was now being made.

Further research work was taking place and the results of this and various documents were expected in the next few months, and there would also be liaison meetings with parish councils around summer.

She said: “This will be followed by more formal consultation.

“The developers are looking to start building homes on the site in the first quarter of 2018.

“Adastral Park is now moving forward.”