Fenland couple hope planning application will bear fruit

Two agricultural buildings currently used for fruit growing could have a new lease of life as homes if plans to convert them get the greenlight.

Mr and Mrs Gill of Bramley Farm in Fendyke Lane, Gorefield are asking Fenland District Council for permission for change of use of two brick built structures located at CF Towson Fruit Growers site, which is a stone's throw from their home.

The aim would be to create five dwellings - four single-storey withtwo bedrooms and one single storey four bedroom property.

A planning statement drawn up by Swann Edwards Architects in support of the plans explains all the rooms in the homes will benefit from natural light either from windows or doors.

It also points out that Fendyke Lane is not a trunk road and the development will not increase the amount of traffic to the site over and above what could be generated by the existing agricultural use of the site and to the extent which would cause harm or safety issues to the public highway.

The statement also points out the stated the proposal is for residential development and therefore would not typically result in noise disturbance.

Adding the current agricultural use of the site has the potential to generate noise and disturbance by means of the use of machinery and the movements of large vehicles.

The proposal could therefore be seen as a "benefit in terms of noise impacts" given the proximity of other dwelling houses within the area.

The proposal will include the provision on the upgrade of the walls and roof, installation of doors, windows and services which are reasonably necessary for the building to function as a dwelling. The external coverings which are not part of the buildings will be removed from the site.

But the statement adds the appearance of the buildings will remain largely unchanged with existing openings being used where possible and new openings only created where necessary.