The developer argued there was a need for affordable housing across East Cambridgeshire
A development of 100 affordable homes which was refused for being “too big” for a village will now go ahead following a successful appeal.
A proposal for 83 homes had already been approved on the land at the edge of Stretham, off the A10 near Ely, but permission was sought for a further 43. East Cambridgeshire District Council refused the application for 126 homes which they said went far above the affordable housing need in Stretham and nearby Little Thetford.
Long Term Land Limited appealed the decision and said there is “an ongoing and acute need for more affordable housing” in both East Cambridgeshire and Stretham. They said half of the homes will be affordable rental properties and the other half will be sold for affordable home ownership.
A range of road improvements are also proposed including street lighting, a puffin crossing, footpath improvements and measures to reduce vehicle speeds.
‘History’ of affordable housing schemes
A hearing was held by the Planning Inspectorate on March 4 and 5 with inspector T Burnham visiting the site on the second day. They noted “a history” of affordable housing schemes being granted outline planning permission on the land.
Initially refused by the council, permission for up to 19 homes was granted on appeal in 2023 and up to 38 were allowed by the council later that year. The need for affordable housing in the area was said to be between 44 and 72 homes, which the council said was “appropriately met” by the approved 83 homes.
The inspector agreed, but said Stretham is linked by buses to Ely and Cambridge which both have a “wide range of services” and “railway stations served by multiple routes”. They added that the “harm and implications” from building too many affordable homes “has not been clearly made out to me”.
Inspector Burnham said the benefits of the homes “should be afforded substantial weight” and approved the appeal.
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