48 homes approved for Whittlesford – but larger development could be built instead

By Hannah Brown, Local Democracy Reporter

Published: 12:00, 19 July 2023

Plans to build 48 new homes in Whittlesford have been agreed, but a larger development could be built in its place if a separate appeal is won.

South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved the latest application to redevelop a former scrap yard off Station Road into new homes.

Illustrative image of proposed 48 homes in Whittlesford. Image: Whittlesford Parkway LLP

Under the plans put forward by Whittlesford Parkway LLP, a mix of houses and flats are proposed to be built.

All of the homes are due to be sold as private housing, with none made available as affordable housing.

The developer agreed to make a financial contribution towards creating affordable housing elsewhere, and said they hoped it could be used particularly to create affordable housing in Whittlesford.

A previous application to build 67 homes at the site was refused by the district council last year. However, an appeal has been made to the Planning Inspectorate to try and overturn this decision.

A decision on this appeal has not yet been made, but if it is allowed, this larger development could still go ahead.

At a meeting of the council’s planning committee last Wednesday (July 12) a representative of the developer said its latest plans for 48 homes addressed issues that had been raised about the previous application.

The representative said the proposals offered the chance to “clear up the polluted site” and would provide new housing in a “sustainable location”.

An illustrative image of the planned 48 homes in Whittlesford. Image: Whittlesford Parkway LLP

However, concerns about the plans were raised by Whittlesford Parish Council, which argued the 48 homes would be an “over-development”.

The parish council also raised concerns that no affordable housing was proposed within the development, and said the design was “not in keeping with its setting within a village”.

Cllr Bill Handley (Lib Dem, Over and Willingham) had “sympathy” with the parish council’s concerns over affordable housing and the density of the development.

Cllr Dr Tumi Hawkins (Lib Dem, Caldecote) felt the proposals were better than the previous application, but had some concerns over the design of the buildings and “the fact that there is not sufficient outdoor space”.

Six councillors voted in favour of approving the plans, with two councillors abstaining.

Homes News Planning South Cambridgeshire Hannah Brown, Local Democracy Reporter