A SUFFOLK town will be hit with its biggest economic boost in 30 years after a council gave the green light to a major new multi-million pound development.

A SUFFOLK town will be hit with its biggest economic boost in 30 years after a council gave the green light to a major new multi-million pound development.

Babergh District Council ignored fears over possible traffic chaos created by the new Chilton Woods development on the edge of Sudbury, which could see 700 new homes and 20 factories built by 2011.

The scheme will be the largest development the Sudbury area has seen for years, but some councillors still believe the project should have been held back until guarantees of a new relief road had been made.

Babergh District Councillor Martyn Booth said last nightthe decision taken by the council's strategy committee had not come as a surprise.

But he still stood by an earlier call for a delay on the development following the Government's decision to refuse plans for a £30 million bypass around the town.

"My view on the situation has not changed and while I do not object to the new development in principle, there is going to be a huge growth in the volume of traffic in the town and I would still like to see a solution to this problem before the scheme at Chilton goes ahead," he said.

"I believe the public are still concerned about the impact the development will have on the town, and it is very unlikely the Government will reconsider their decision on the bypass before the new homes are built."

The public will have a chance to review the council's in-depth proposals at an exhibition planned for next month.

The latest draft for the masterplan includes details of a neighbourhood centre, and other community facilities such as meeting rooms, football pitches, a new primary school, shopping complex, and a household recycling depot, all creating around 500 new jobs in total.

It is also hoped that out of the 700 houses planned for Chilton, 235 will be affordable for rent or part ownership by local people.

County, district and town councillor Nick Irwin said: "This development is crucial to the economic wealth and wellbeing of the town, and we have a duty to the younger generations to provide job opportunities and homes."

Babergh District Council hopes work on the scheme could get underway as soon as 2006.