Plans for more affordable homes in village refused

A developer has been refused permission to build 126 affordable homes after the plans were branded "too big" for a village.

The homes proposed for a field on the edge of Stretham, off the A10 near Ely in Cambridgeshire, would have been run by Stonewater Housing Association.

An outline application to build 83 affordable homes at the site was approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council last year.

Chris Frost, a representative for the applicant, said the latest plans for 126 affordable homes were essentially proposing an extra 43 houses on an already approved site.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Frost, of Long Term Land Limited, told councillors at a planning committee meeting on 7 May that there was a "significant shortage of affordable housing" in the district, following "many years of persistent under-delivery" of affordable homes.

He said at the time of the application being submitted that there were more than 1,000 households on the district council's housing register.

But councillor David Brown highlighted the developer had only been granted permission for 83 homes last year - and asked why they had not asked for permission to build 126 homes then.

Mr Frost said he did not think there was "an issue in principle of coming back and maximising the benefit of providing affordable housing where it is required".

Planning officers agreed there had been an under-delivery of affordable housing over the years, adding there was a "significant need" for affordable housing across East Cambridgeshire.

However, they said the need for affordable homes in the Stretham and Little Thetford area ranged from 44 to 72 homes, which they said would be "appropriately met" by the previously approved plans for 83 homes on the site.

Officers recommended that the application for 126 homes should therefore be refused, which was endorsed by a majority of councillors in a vote.

The developer still has permission to build up to 83 affordable homes on the site, and said more detailed plans will be submitted later this year.

They can also appeal the district council's decision to refuse permission for the 126 homes.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.