Green light for 21 homes in Wisbech

Plans for 21 homes on the former Pike Textiles site close to Asda in Wisbech have been given the go-ahead despite earlier fears over flooding dangers.

Fenland’s first planning committee to be held online since the lockdown began voted to approve the application by Ropemaker Properties to build the houses on the site off North End.

An officers’ report to the meeting earlier this month acknowledged that supporting evidence submitted with the application had failed to address concerns highlighted by the lead local flood authority, in this case Cambridgeshire County Council, which pointed out that the site is in Flood Zone 3 - the highest risk category.

However, the report said: “This evidence deficit when weighted against the policy benefits in delivering 21 residential units on this brownfield sustainable site is accepted.”

The developer will have to make a contribution to education in the town of up to £30,000 - £13,579 of that would go to Ramnoth Primary School and a further £6,314 to early years at Peckover School, as well as give cash towards Wisbech Town Park as part of a section 106 agreement.

The report also said that changes in the definition of affordable housing has allowed the scheme to move from a non-viable development, to one where the developer can “deliver a level of affordable housing which is policy compliant”. Starter homes will be included in the development and the report adds: “This factor has also been given appropriate weight in arriving at a positive recommendation.”

The report concluded: “The redevelopment of this brownfield site accords with national and local planning policy and will see an uplift in the environmental quality of the area.”