Decision day for 425 homes plan for March site

Councillors must decide an application for up to 425 homes on a site in March on Wednesday – otherwise, Fenland Council will be out of time and could face having to repay the £39,000 fees paid by the applicant.

A report to Wednesday’s planning committee meeting recommends the application by Barratt David Wilson Homes, for the dwellings on a site off Barkers Lane and Wimblington Road, submitted last summer for approval.

However, the plans, which also include a public open space, a community garden, and orchard, as well as a children’s play area, have seen numerous objections from residents and the town council amid concerns over flooding, drainage, conservation, and unsatisfactory active travel proposals.

A report to the upcoming committee meeting explains the planned development, referred to by the developer as Stow Fen Meadows, is equal to approximately 65% of the number of new homes allocated for that area of March under the council’s Local Plan, which seeks to deliver around 600 dwellings and supporting infrastructure.

It adds that a Broad Concept Plan for this site was approved in June last year and adds that the application has undergone several revisions following discussions since it was first submitted, mainly concerning transport impacts and mitigation, drainage, and biodiversity.

The report explains: “A comprehensive package of mitigation has been agreed by the applicant, with a mixture of financial contributions and direct delivery of affordable housing and transport infrastructure.

“It is recognised that the development will result in some unavoidable landscape harm, however, this is localised and inevitable given the development plan allocation. Furthermore, due to known viability constraints with the district, the full amount of infrastructure contributions cannot be secured.”

It concludes: “However, it is considered that the proposal would, on balance, amount to sustainable development and would accord with the development plan taken as a whole.

“There are no material considerations worthy of sufficient weight that indicate that a decision should be made other than in accordance with the development plan. The recommendation is to approve the application.”

The report also advises: “This application must be determined by August 31 2024 otherwise it will be out of time and therefore negatively affect the performance figures and poses a risk to an appeal against non-determination of the application.”

The applicant has paid £39,170 in application fees to the council and the statutory target date for determination was November 14, 2023.

Planning regulations state a local authority must refund planning application fees if they don’t decide an application within a set deadline.

The applicant can also go above the council and seek a decision from the planning inspectorate.