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Outline plans for 250 homes in Fenland town get green-light subject to conditions and developer contributions




Plans for nearly 250 homes in a Fenland town have been approved by Fenland District Council, despite objections from local councillors.
Wednesday's (3) planning committee saw members of Fenland's planning committee agree with an officer's recommendation to approve the application for up to 248 homes on farmland close to Jack's supermarket in Chatteris.

The approval for the Womb Farm development is outline only, with delegated powers being given to the council's head of planning to sort out planning conditions and terms of the S106 agreement - the contributions the developer is expected to make towards the cost of amenities.

Plans to build up to 248 homes on Womb Farm in Chatteris have been approved. (36255426)
Plans to build up to 248 homes on Womb Farm in Chatteris have been approved. (36255426)

A report to the committee explained the application by Triman Dev (UK) Ltd/Robertson Strategic Asset Man Ltd was before members because the officer's recommendation to approve went against Chatteris Town Council's opinion that it should be refused.

The town council had commented: “The issue of free flowing traffic and access on to the A141 needs to be resolved before the town council will support the application. Traffic lights at Slade End roundabout are a necessity and the proposed footway from Doddington Road to the Jack’s site should also be a cycleway.”

The report said a viability study proposed a contribution of 20 per cent affordable houses on the 8.27 hectare site together with financial contributions for infrastructure.

Improvements to the existing pedestrian infrastructure along Fenland Way (A141) and Doddington Road including bus stop improvements have been agreed in principle with the local highways authority.

The report lists a series of other contributions the developers are expected to make.

These include: £2,664,100 towards 100 places at the Cromwell Community College project to create an all-through school with 210 primary places.The Womb Farm development is expected to generate the need for 100 primary places. A further £2,842,749 will be asked for towards secondary education to cover the cost of 63 places at the Cromwell.

Another contribution of £36,757 will go towards the cost of remodelling Chatteris library to meet the demand of new residents, increasing floor space available to the community.

Developers will also be expected to pay a further total of £157,160 towards open space and sports, including £34,920 towards an off-site neighbourhood park and £8,730 for alloments.

But because NHS England were unable to provide information on what they needed for health services in the town the report concluded: "NHS England have not provided any indication of a time-frame for being able to provide this information. As such, it is not possible to seek any contributions towards healthcare in this instance."

The officer's report included a masterplan for the site, which is grade 2 and 3 agricultural land, but said it is an illustrative layout and will not necessarily be the way the development is carried out, it is simply to show 248 homes could be accommodated.

It also suggests the development will include up to 52 four-bedroom, 61 three-bedroom, and 57 two-bedroom homes as well as 78 two-bedroom flats.



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