Green Welly Café in Chatteris could become homes

A well-known cafe could soon have a new lease of life as three homes after a planning application was submitted to Fenland District Council.

Maria Hobbs, from Chatteris, has applied for permission for the creation of three dwellings involving the conversion of the existing shop to a ground floor flat, and the conversion of the cafe and first floor to two dwellings.

The application includes raising the roof height to create a first-floor level, insertion of four dormer windows to the front and two roof lights to the rear roof slope, rendering the front element and building boundary fencing and walls.

A design and access statement submitted in support of the application and drawn up by Swann Edwards Architects explained the café was previously supported by the lorry parking to the rear and later motel rooms.

But in recent years lorry parking has become difficult to manage and lorries are opting to use the filling station opposite for takeaway food instead of the café which has reduced its customer base.

The lorry parking was closed when the garden centre on the site was opened, which saw the demand for hot meals further reduced.

The statement added: “While the café has remained open and is well supported the use is more for light cooked meals, cakes and teas and coffee.

“A small café is currently in use at the garden centre and another application seeks to extend this area to provide a larger café which will continue to serve the existing customer base.”

What were motel rooms on the site have already been converted into flats.

The latest application will include two parking spaces per property.

The statement concluded: “The proposal involves the provision of three dwellings within the built-up area of a market town. It meets the definition of sustainable development and complies with the Government’s new 'build, build, build' agenda.

“It is submitted that the proposal complies with the policies of the Development Plan and it is respectfully requested that planning permission is granted.”