Final approval for 203 homes at Ida Darwin Hospital site in Fulbourn

The final approval has been granted for 203 homes on the site of the former Ida Darwin Hospital in Fulbourn, six years after work on the plans began.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning meeting last Wednesday (January 19) agreed the reserved matters application from Morris Homes.

It gave more detail on the development following outline approval in 2019.

Gary Goodwin, the group planning and design director at Morris Homes, described the “bespoke” design, which he said in many aspects the plans “went beyond” the district council’s own policies.

Cllr Graham Cone (Con, Fen Ditton and Fulbourn) spoke in support of the plans, noting the design had “really taken into account the design within Fulbourn”, adding that the planned 40 percent affordable housing could be a “great thing for Fulbourn”.

However, fellow ward representative Cllr Dr Claire Daunton (Lib Dem, Fen Ditton and Fulbourn) argued that the design did not follow the village’s design code, said she did not believe there was enough bin storage space and raised concerns over the lack of private outdoor space.

Drainage proposals were also questioned by the committee but the applicant told councillors the plans had been improved and council officers said the relevant departments had signed off the details.

The committee agreed to add an ‘informative’ to its approval, asking the developer to review the drainage scheme after it has completed the first phase of the development and before it began building the second phase.

Cllr Dr Tumi Hawkins (Lib Dem, Caldecote) raised questions during the debate over plans to raise some of the ground levels, but said overall it was a good plan that she would “love to see when it is done”.

Cllr Heather Williams (Con, The Mordens) said she really liked the design of the buildings saying she felt it did reflect areas in Fulbourn.

Mr Goodwin said more than six years of work had gone into the plans.