Nineteen homes planned for March site but developer argues against paying anything towards town's infra-structure, school or health services
A developer is hoping to build 19 homes on land close to a March school without paying any contributions towards infra-structure, education or providing affordable homes.
This Land Limited wants to build the homes comprising of 10 two-bed, seven three-bed and two four-bed on land west of Hereward Hall, in County Road. Access to the development will be off All Saints Close.
A design and access statement drawn up by The Design Partnership (Ely) on behalf of This Land Limited, argues the proposals comply with Fenland's planning policies and "will create no adverse impacts on neighbouring land users or the wider community."
It also says the development will be of contemporary design, in line with existing houses in All Saints Close.
However, March Town Council have raised some concerns about the level of development proposed and neighbours are also concerned about the impact of extra traffic, and also the extra demand for local GP services and schooling.
A planning statement from Carter Jonas said written pre-application advice from Fenland Council's planning officers had confirmed the principle of residential development of the site was acceptable. Planning permission had previously been granted for 21 homes.
However, the planners did raise concerns regarding the plot sizes, the size of amenity spaces and the potential for adverse amenity impacts on properties to the south of the application site. Issues which were later addressed with changes to the parts of the proposals.
The statement concluded: "It is considered that the proposed development fully complies with the development plan and national planning policy, and is acceptable in respect of all other material planning considerations."
However, a viability report included with the application explains that calculations show that "significant and unjustifiable adjustments to the developer profit and build costs would be required to produce an output residual value approaching the calculated benchmark value of £122,500.
"We therefore conclude that the application scheme is not sufficiently viable to make planning contributions in the form of affordable housing and Section 106 contributions."
"We therefore conclude that the application scheme is not sufficiently viable to make planning contributions in the form of affordable housing and Section 106 contributions."
