Plans look set for approval as Fenland has power to say yes to its own application

Fenland District Council looks poised to grant itself planning permission to build up to 80 homes on land close to Chatteris' historic Wenny Meadow.

Fenland Future Ltd, the business arm of the council, wants to build the houses on land east of The Elms and the application is set to be discussed at Wedneday's (8) planning committee when officers are recommending approval.

However, strong objections have been raised on numerous grounds with former Fenland councillor Alan Melton among those against the proposal.

In a written submission via the council's planning portal Mr Melton said: "The proposal is premature as it is not part of a strategic plan for the whole of Chatteris East.

"Originally the site was part of a plan which showed access from Wenny Road, with spur roads leading off. There was not to be an access from The Elms, Green Park, Birch Avenue or St Martin’s Road.

"This application should be withdrawn along with the controversial site at Wenny “Meadow”, (F/YR21/0981/F). Landowners should be advised to submit a planned strategic proposal for the whole area, with proper infrastructure, protection of the environment and provide much needed open space. Failure of landowners to agree to a strategic plan should result in all the land being de-allocated in the emerging Local Plan."

Mr Melton also suggested that any profit made from the site if planning goes ahead should be largely spent in Chatteris as Fenland had seized the land, which had belonged to Chatteris Urban Council, when the district council was formed in 1974.

Other objections included one from an agent representing neighbouring landowners who suggested there was a "conflict of interest" with Fenland having the power to determine the application and suggested the council should not decide on the plans in the "interests of transparency".

The agent also argued the application ignores the remaining Broad Concept Plan (BCP) land, which is earmarked for up to up to 350 dwellings on a 26 hectare site, which includes the 'Wenny Meadow' area, which has been the subject of a major campaign in Chatteris to save it from development, including the holding of a town poll last summer. There is a completely separate application (F/YR21/0981/F) to build 93 homes on the meadow land.

The agent suggests the council's application should include road links to into the neighbouring sites and asks: "Is the council moving the goal posts to suite itself."

The officer's report to Wednesday's meeting agrees the "most significant" issue is the proposed use of The Elms as access to the site.

The BCP raised concerns about the use of The Elms suggesting the relatively narrow and bending routes make it less than ideal. However, while the Highways Authority did point out the proposal did not match with the BCP it concluded it was a matter for the local planning authority.

Residents living in The Elms, St Martins Road and Green Park have raised objections to the plans and these include the use of the estate roads, which the objectors argue are designed for existing residents and will not be able to cope with additional traffic and existing 'pinch points' will become impassable as a result.

Chatteris Town Council did not object to the plans 'per se' but were strongly opposed to the access from the The Elms and and suggested the applicant consider an alternative route.

It commented: "The original plan was for the development area off Wenny Road (including this site) to be accessed via a feeder road from a roundabout at the junction of Wenny Road and the A142. When the access to the site was left at The Elms there was considerably less traffic in St Martin's Road, Birch Avenue and The Elms. Additional vehicles include school traffic for Glebelands School. The roads leading to the site are unsuitable for yet more traffic, including construction vehicles, and will become congested."

Cambridgeshire's Wildlife Officer said the application should be refused as there was insufficient information about the potential negative impact of the proposal on material biodiversity grounds.

The officer said the application has been submitted with an Ecological Appraisal (Tetra Tech, August 2021) that identified features within the site boundary which will require further survey to establish if protected species are present.

"The presence of a protected species is a material consideration when a planning authority is considering a development proposal. It is essential that the presence or otherwise of a protected species, and the extent that they may be affected by the proposed development is established before the planning permission is granted," said the officer.

If approved the developer would have to provide £160,000 of section 106 monies to pay for infra-structure - this includes £5,120 towards the George Clare Surgery with the remainder going to primary and secondary school provision.

The planning officer's report agues that it is appropriate for Fenland's planning committee to decide the application as long as it is "dealt with in the normal way".

Conditions of approval will include the developer having to provide an access to the land to the south of the site - with no ransom strip - to enable connectivity to the wider BCP land, and the agreement of the S106 payment.

The officer also suggests the provision of links to the south could help bring forward further development of the site.

The report concludes: "This site is on the edge of Chatteris a Main Settlement within the adopted Development Hierarchy. It is also within a strategic allocation within the Local Plan, with an adopted BCP, and as such the principle of development is acceptable."