Homes plans for Fenland village get a 'no' from planners for being contrary to planning policy

Plans for nine homes in a Fenland village have been refused by planners as they go against Fenland District Council's planning policies.

Mr and Mrs Bellamy had hoped to build the properties on land south Of 12 - 24 Ingham Hall Gardens in Parson Drove.

However, despite a design and access statement drawn up by Swann Edwards Architects arguing in favour of the suitability of the proposed site for residential development in light of recent development surrounding the site, policy developments and also recent approvals within the village of Parson Drove, Fenland's planning officers were not convinced.

The proposal had also prompted numerous letters of objections from neighbouring residents among them Mr and Mrs A Fisher, who live in Ingham Hall Gardens.

They argued the plans were an "invasion into open countryside", they also feared the development would increase traffic flow along Ingham Hall Gardens, which they said was a "quiet road containing bungalows".

Martin and Christine Hammond, also of Ingham Hall Gardens, said the plans were not in line with the village's new development plan and argued the homes will extend the natural boundary of recent development into the natural countryside.

They also point out that access to the site is via Ingham Hall Gardens using an unadopted part of the road, which is maintained and financed by two existing residents of the roadway, and not by the applicants.

However, Mr and Mrs Richards were in support of the application and said: "We feel that Parson Drove village is an excellent location for new homes to be built benefitting both the local community and the wider area."

But the officer's report said: "The application is not accompanied by such clear demonstrable evidence of positive community support, nor has the application been supported by the parish council. therefore the application is contrary to the Parson Drove Neighbourhood Plan 2020."

It also pointed out the fact the road is unadopted will cause problems not least with bin collections, as they have to be done from an adopted roadside and therefore a bin collection point would have to be built in front of existing properties. It would need to accommodate up to 18 bins - which the officer said would "not constitute high levels of residential amenity, for both existing occupiers and new occupiers". It would also be in contravention of the waste management design guide.

As a consequence the application was refused by Fenland's head of planning Nick Harding on Wednesday (27), with the decision notice adding: "The application was clearly contrary to the relevant planning policies and the Local Planning Authority working positively and proactively with the applicants would have afforded no opportunity to overcome these problems."