Gypsy and Traveller families allowed to keep Willingham homes despite objections

Gypsy and Traveller families have been allowed to keep their homes in Willingham despite objections from the parish council.

Willingham Parish Council raised concerns about the suitability of the site off Haden Way for the homes and the safety of the access road but South Cambridgeshire District Council said the development offered “much needed pitches for the Gypsy and Traveller community”.

A retrospective planning application was submitted to the district council for permission to create eight Gypsy and Traveller pitches and three amenity buildings – previous permission had been granted for just one pitch.

The parish council said: “There is no mains drainage on the site and adding another seven pitches will compound any issues that may arise from that.

“The site is situated on an unmade road with no footpath which would be dangerous especially as there are children on site.

“The application would result in a significant increase in the number of vehicles travelling on an unmade road with no footpath.

“The site is within an agricultural area and the development would represent increased creeping urbanisation.

“The site is located a long way from village amenities.”

The application was assessed by distinct council planning officers who highlighted the need for more Gypsy and Traveller homes in the area. A report published by the authority said it needed around 130 permanent pitches in the next 17 years, and 17 plots for travelling showpeople in South Cambridgeshire.

Officers said that in the last two years 10 decisions to refuse permission for Gypsy and Traveller homes had been overturned on appeal, mainly due to the fact that the district council could not show the community’s housing needs were being met.

Officers said the council could not identify any lawful existing or available sites which could meet the needs of the proposed development off Haden Way.

The planning officers’ report said: “Officers consider that the proposed addition of further pitches on the edge of Willingham, noting that the site is to the south-west of the village, would respect the scale of the village and would not result in a development which would result in an unacceptable or dominant nature.

“The proposal is not considered to give rise to significant additional traffic in the village and would provide satisfactory access.

“The application has been subject to a formal consultation with the local highways authority who raise no objection and it is not considered that the proposal would result in any significant harm to the highway safety.”