A developer has been given the green light to build 70 affordable homes on the edge of Chatteris after saying there is a “critical and urgent” need for the housing. Fears had been shared about overdevelopment and the impact on “already highly congested” roads in the area, with 144 people signing a petition against the plans.
However, councillors said they agreed with the developer that there is a need for more affordable homes. The proposals to build the 70 new homes on grassland of West Street were submitted to Fenland District Council by Minster Property Group. Permission had previously been granted to build 58 homes on the land, however this permission has now expired and can not be built.
The current plans will see 29 two-bedroom houses, 29 three-bedroom houses, six four-bedroom houses, and six two-bedroom bungalows built on the site. All of the homes are due to be made available as affordable housing, with a mix of tenures planned including affordable home ownership and affordable rent.
Jake Stentiford, representative of the developer, told councillors at a planning committee meeting this week (January 8) that the development would see high quality homes built, creating a “distinctive neighbourhood and an attractive place to live”. He said there is a “critical and urgent” situation of families in the area in an “immediate need of affordable and suitable homes”.
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Mr Stentiford said: “The shortage of quality affordable housing is at the root of many of our pressing social challenges. When people have decent homes their health improves, their ability to work improves, and the burden on local health services is reduced, and productivity rises.”
Mr Stentiford told councillors that the developer is prepared to “move quickly”, aiming to start building in the summer. However, concerns about the size of the proposed housing development had been raised by people in the area. A petition opposing the application to build the 70 homes was signed by 144 people.
Formal objections were also lodged against the plans by 11 members of the public. One objector said the “overdevelopment of our open spaces must be halted”. Another neighbour argued West Street would not be able to handle the extra traffic created from the proposed development. They said: “Not only is the road in a bad state of repair, but there are already cars parked the length of the street. The road is also used as a cut through for traffic, so is already busy enough.”
Mr Stentiford addressed the concerns that had been raised, telling councillors that the proposed density was “perfectly acceptable in the context of the need for these affordable homes”. He also said the plans were also supported by a “detailed transport statement” and that the impact of the development on neighbouring roads had been assessed as being acceptable. Mr Stentiford added that some improvements were also planned for West Street.
Councillor Ian Benney said he recognised people in Chatteris had raised objections to the development, however, he said there is a need for more affordable homes in the town. Cllr Benney said council tax would only “go up and up” if the district council had to continue spending money on temporary accommodation for people, if more affordable homes were not built. He said: “This needs approving, we need housing, people are living in bed and breakfasts and need somewhere to live.”
Councillor David Connor said he agreed that the houses are needed and said he was pleased the developer was aiming to start building the homes in the summer. He said: “I am absolutely going to support this, I think we definitely need houses and this is one of the better applications.”
Councillor Sidney Imafidon said he could see no “sensible reason” to refuse the plans. He said the district council had a “huge” housing waiting list and that the affordable homes were therefore needed. When a decision was put to a vote the committee agreed unanimously to approve the plans.