Quarter of homes on larger planned developments granted permission in 2024 are in Fenland

More than a quarter of 8,800 homes granted planning permission on larger developments across Cambridgeshire this year are in Fenland.

District councils have doled out the planning permissions in their areas over the last 12 months covering a total of 26 large housing developments – three of which are for more than 1,000 homes.

District councils are responsible for deciding if new developments can go ahead or not but their decisions can be challenged through appeals to the planning inspectorate.

Some of the new homes granted permission in 2024 were opposed by the local council but were approved by a planning inspector on appeal.

This year plans to build 8,822 homes across large developments of 50 or more homes were given the green light.

In Fenland these included a total of 2,209 homes on sites largely in March. Smaller applications were granted in the other towns and villages but these were not included in the totals mentioned here.

Councillors in Fenland approved plans for 425 homes on land south of Barkers Lane and east of Wimblington Road, in March after the developer promised to take necessary action to avoid exacerbating sewage and flooding issues in Barkers Lane.

The developer, Barratt David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire, said its plans offered a “fantastic opportunity to create a legacy to support the growth of March”.

In Drybread Road, Whittlesey councillors approved 175 homes despite some concerns being shared about the impact of the development on traffic “chaos” in the town.

The developer, Allison Homes Ltd, said they had put together a “package of mitigation measures” to address the highway’s impact.

Land north of Eastrea Road, Whittlesey is to be the site of 249 homes despite similar concerns about the impact they might have on Whittlesey’s roads, which were raised by councillors in relation to the application.

The developer, Rose Homes (EA) Limited said the development would “maintain highway safety” and that a range of highway improvements were planned.

Detailed plans to build 110 new homes on land off Upwell Road in March, were approved by Fenland District Council in November.

The development is due to include a mix of flats and houses.

The developer, Allison Homes, said 22 of the homes would be made available as affordable housing, but there were grave concerns from residents about possible flooding.

An outline application for 1,200 homes on the edge of March was approved recently, with the homes due to be built across 52 hectares of land west of The Avenue.

A new primary school, allotments, a local centre, as well as parks and open spaces are also proposed.

The developer, Persimmon Homes East Midlands, has said it plans to build the new homes over three phases between 2026 and 2038.

However, Cambridgeshire County Council has raised concerns about the funding the development will provide towards the cost of the proposed new school.

Plans for a further 50 homes on the edge of March were approved just last week.

The homes are proposed to be built on a field north of Lambs Hill Drove and will form part of a wider development of over 400 new homes to the south of the town.

The developer, Cannon Kirk Developments Ltd, said it would make 20% of the new homes available as affordable housing.