Two developments that could have seen 37 new homes built in March have been rejected by councillors. Concerns about the potential for flooding were raised about both developments. Fenland District Council refused permission for plans to build 18 homes on land east of Berryfield, and for plans to build 19 homes in Whittlesey Road. The developers can appeal the decisions.
The two planning applications were considered by councillors at a planning committee meeting this week (January 8). The Berryfield development for 18 homes had been recommended for refusal by planning officers, due to the lack of a sequential test, and due to a predicted net loss of biodiversity on the land.
Officers said as parts of the site are in higher flood risk zones a sequential test was needed to see if other similar plots of land are available in the area that are at a lower risk of flooding. The developer, Fink Developments, had proposed to build 12 four-bedroom homes and six three-bedroom homes, as well creating new public open space and two ponds.
Shanna Jackson, a representative of the developer, told councillors the proposals would create “high quality housing in a primary market town”. Ms Jackson said the development had been designed to ensure the houses would be in the part of the site within flood zone one, the area at lowest risk of flooding, and said this meant “no person or property would be put at risk”.
She explained that only the access road would be in flood zone two, but highlighted that no objections were raised by the lead local flood authority or the Environment Agency. Ms Jackson also said the requirement for developments to show a biodiversity net gain of 10 per cent had come into force after the plans for this development had been submitted.
However, she said the net gain could be provided if a condition was added to require it. Officers reiterated their concerns and said a sequential test was required if part of the development was in flood zone two, and said there would be a biodiversity net loss, which they said went against local plan policy. Councillor Ian Benney said he thought it was a “good application” and suggested the developer could meet the biodiversity requirement in the area of open space planned.
Councillor David Conner said he agreed with Cllr Benney, and highlighted that the houses themselves would be in the area at lowest risk of flooding. However, Councillor Jan French said she did have concerns about the plans. She said the existing road had flooded and said: “We shouldn’t be approving things that are going to cause problems for people on other bits of land and I think this would.”
Land off Whittlesey Road, in March, were 19 homes were proposed to be built.
(Image: Google)
When a decision was put to a vote, the majority of councillors agreed the development should be refused. Planning officers had also recommended the second proposed development to build 19 homes off Whittlesey Road should be refused. The developer, MJS Investments (March) Ltd, proposed to build the new homes on land where the former Horse and Jockey pub had once stood.
In planning documents submitted to the district council the developer had said that with mitigation measures the site was “not at significant flood risk”. They also said the 19 homes would help meet the housing need in the area. However, planning officers said the site was “unsustainably linked” to the rest of the town and would make people have to place “heavy reliance on private motor vehicles to access basic services”.
Officers highlighted that the site is in flood zone three, putting it at risk of flooding, and said there was not “sufficient justification to demonstrate that the development is necessary”. Cllr French said the land is “ripe for development”, but said she believed 19 homes was too many for the size of the site. Councillors agreed unanimously to refuse the application.