Leverington homes plan looks set for refusal of road safety fears and flooding risk

Plans for 33 homes in a Fenland look set to be refused by the district council’s planning committee when it meets tomorrow.

As with another application, due to be discussed tomorrow, councillors have until Friday, September 20 to determine the application by Mr Goodale otherwise it will be out of time and will negatively affect the council’s performance figures.

An officer’s report to the committee explains proposed site is an unallocated greenfield site with an access that is planned to be within 25 metres of another development where up to 221 homes are due to be built and have already been approved.

The officer is recommending refusal for the 33 homes, which will include eight affordable houses but it is before the committee because of the number of representations to the council in favour.

A similar application was refused under delegated powers in June 2019 says the report.

Approximately half the site is classified as being in Flood Zone 3 (highest risk of flooding) and as such Sequential Test was required to avoid, where possible, flood risk to people and property where other lower-risk land might be preferable.

But says the report: “The applicant’s Sequential Test only considers the search area to be the village of Leverington. However, given the location of the site, planning officers consider that the search area should include Wisbech.

“When considering this wider search area there are reasonably available sites for this type of development in areas with a lower risk of flooding. The proposal therefore fails the Sequential Test.”

Local highways have also objected on safety grounds relating to the proposed access on Sutton Road and also because of a pinch-point within the site which means the internal road would need to be relocated.

Leverington Parish Council are opposed to the plans because of the access being so close to the already approved 221 homes site on the opposite side of the road.

The parish also argues: “It is out of character with other dwellings in vicinity. Dangers of movement of traffic especially as the A1101 is an extremely busy road. Bang in the middle of a flood risk zone.

“Village amenities are unable to cope with the number of new people. The school, doctors, dentists, and roads are at a point where any more capacity will be a step too far.

“Infrastructure is unable to cope on this heavy commuter route. Drainage systems and utilities such as water pressure, will be affected. The sewers are many years old.”

There were 24 letters of objection from residents and eight letters of support.

However, the report concludes: “The proposals are not considered to have passed the Sequential Test and are therefore contrary to national planning policy and the adopted Fenland Local Plan.

“Secondly, the proposed access and internal road has not demonstrated it can be provided without resulting in the risk of collisions due to inadequate space. It is therefore considered to have an unacceptable impact on highway safety.”