Plans to build on former March mayors' home site get go-ahead

A March charity's plans to earn cash with the development of a benefactor's former home are finally set to come to fruition.

March Educational Foundation's latest attempt to gain planning permission to build on the site of the home of former March mayors George and Patsy Brewin has won approval - but on a much smaller scale.

Instead of plans to demolish Brewin Oaks in City Road and replace it with 41 flats and four houses the executors of Mrs Brewin have been granted permission to build just eight houses with the Brewin's former home being retained with a much smaller garden and sold off.

The application has been approved under officers' delegated powers this week subject to numerous conditions, after Fenland's chair of planning Councillor David Connor gave the go-ahead.

Previous plans for the flats and houses on the site had met with a swathe of opposition not only because of fears it would result in over-development of the site, but also on the grounds it was not what the Brewins had intended for their legacy.

They were refused by Fenland's planning committee, despite officer recommendations to approve and March Education Foundation went on to unsuccessfully appeal the decision. It was thrown out by planning inspector Zoe Raygen in July last year.

The latest application will see the eight homes built on the south of the Brewin Oaks site and a planning statement submitted in support of the proposal explains: " This is a reduced scheme with the existing vacant house retained as it is, with a smaller garden. The house suitable for extension and conversion into a residential care, nursing home or similar, but this is not part of this application and would be a matter for any purchaser."

It adds that six of the homes would be on the road frontage and as the plans are only outline it is yet to be determined whether they will be bungalows or houses with either two or three storeys.

The planning statement concludes: "This is a simple scheme which retains the existing house for possible future use that would benefit the community. The scale can have no adverse effects on adjacent occupiers.

"The scheme will enhance the character of the area, and overcome the planning committee’s previous concerns."

An officer's report recommending approval of the latest plans concluded: "The application site is currently in residential use and the proposal is to intensify that use by means of outline planning permission for residential development of up to eight units on the southern part of the existing residential property.

"Concern has been raised regarding the levels of traffic generated by the proposals, however these concerns are not supported by the Local Highway Authority, who have indicated that they do not consider the proposal to result in an unacceptable increase in traffic sufficient to justify refusal of the scheme."

* March Educational Foundation supports young people under the age of 25 in the town to further their education.