70 new homes for former dealership on Histon Road in Cambridge approved despite objections
Permission has been granted for 70 new homes to be built on the site of a former car dealership in Cambridge despite more than 130 formal objections against it.
Concerns raised include the impact of the development on children’s safety in the Histon Road Recreation Ground.
The site, which was previously home to the Murketts car dealership and an unused workshop area of the ATS commercial unit, will include 28 council homes and 42 market-sale properties.
Cllr Gerri Bird, executive councillor for housing at Cambridge City Council, said there was a “pressing need” for high quality and sustainable housing.
The developer is Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP), which is a collaboration between Cambridge City Council and the housing builder, The Hill Group.
There were 133 objections formally lodged , with concerns raised including the impact on the safety of Histon Road Recreation Ground due to more people travelling through the park from the proposed new access point.
Originally two new access points to the recreation ground were proposed, but the developer agreed to drop this to one new opening after concerns were raised. It said a new eastern access path would be created and a planned central path will no longer be built.
Katyuli Lloyd, a parent of young children who lives about two minutes away, accused CIP of taking away a “chunk of playground” that they have “no right to do”.
“I would also like to emphasise the number of objections, 100 plus thoughtfully written and lengthy ones is no small number,” she told the council’s planning committee on Wednesday last week.
“If the current application is passed, this will ride roughshod over local feeling. Most people accept there’s nothing wrong with building new homes on a brownfield site, but what they don’t like is the typical squeezing in of a development and the fact that its lack of green space means Hill can instead offer easy access to the recreation ground as an attractive sell for new residents.”
However, planning officers, who recommended approval for the plans, pointed to the “significant economic, environmental and social public benefits” that the homes would create.
They said the proposed development did not provide the amount of onsite public open space required by council policies. But they highlighted the proposed link to the recreation ground and the proposed financial contribution of over £77,000 for improvements to Histon Road Recreation Ground.
The gas-free development will feature a mixture of two, three and four bedroom terraced and semi-detached homes, as well as one, two and three bedroom apartments.
The design aims to reduce carbon emissions, lower energy bills, and minimise annual maintenance costs. Secure cycle storage and good pedestrian links promote sustainable travel and transport, with key facilities within walking distance.
Tom Hill, managing director at The Hill Group, added: “Throughout the pre-planning process, we engaged with the local community by hosting several consultation events. Following our initial submission, we continued to work closely with planning officers and community members to incorporate their feedback and address any concerns.
“As a result, we made several changes to enhance the overall design and functionality of the development. This careful consideration of public feedback underscores our commitment to creating a high-quality, sustainable development that fosters community interaction while meeting the needs and expectations of local residents.”
