Homes given go-ahead in March by planning inspector

More than 100 homes will be built in March after a planning inspector overturned Fenland Council’s decision to refuse an application by Allison Homes.

The Planning Inspectorate determined that the planning committee’s reasons for refusal were not sound or justified and that the proposal complied with the council’s planning policies.

The site, off Upwell Road in March, had already been identified by Fenland Council as a suitable location for housing in its most recent draft Local Plan – a key planning policy document created by councils that confirms where it would like to see new homes built to support its growth needs.

The plans had also been recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers as the application complied with the Local Plan policies and the proposal had suitably addressed drainage, flooding, and traffic matters.

Around 50 residents had objected to the application when it went live on the council’s planning portal a year ago with concerns over flooding, over-stretched infra-structure including the sewerage system and traffic congestion all being cited.

By the time the application went to the planning committee last June more than 80 letters of objection had been submitted.

It was at the June meeting that Fenland councillors went against the planning officer's recommendations and refused permission.

Councillor Jan French was among the councillors to speak against the proposals stating the site was not suitable and the plans went against the council’s planning policies.

She raised concerns about the “awful” traffic congestion on St Peter’s Road, with Councillor David Connor backing her view with him adding whoever had carried out the traffic survey, which accompanied the application, “must have gone at midnight” not to have found congestion issues.

However, Allison Homes appealed the decision and the Planning Inspectorate have this week overturned the council’s refusal meaning the plans are now approved and work can begin, once detailed designs (Reserved Matters) have been approved and relevant conditions discharged.

The new development will be built by Allison Homes which it says will create 110 high-quality new homes in a variety of sizes and styles to meet local needs and will include up to 22 much-needed affordable homes which will be provided through registered housing associations or affordable housing schemes to support local people. The development is also expected to provide around £300,000 towards NHS, highway/footpath improvements, and local library provision through developer contributions.

Glyn Mabey, managing director of Allison Homes East Region, said: “While we take no joy in appealing the decisions made by planning committees, in this instance it was clear that our plans had met all the requirements set out by the council’s planning policies, on a site that the council had identified as a place where it would like to see new houses built.

“We understand the concerns that local people have regarding traffic congestion and flooding. As with all our planning applications, we are required to work closely with planning officers, statutory consultees, and Anglian Water to make sure that all these areas are thoroughly considered, and the necessary on-site and off-site infrastructure is put in place to support the new development.

“With this application, all bodies were happy with the plans that had been put in place.

“Now this decision has been made, we will now work quickly to present detailed designs of the houses and layout for final approval. We then look forward to starting to build the new homes later this year.”