Outline plans for up to 230 new homes were submitted to Fenland District Council
A new development has been accused of turning a town “almost into Milton Keynes” as councillors debated the traffic it would cause. An outline application for up to 230 new homes in March was put before Fenland District Council’s planning committee.
More detailed plans are yet to be drawn up, but the application said the new houses would be a variety of types and sizes with five play areas – two with playground equipment. One in five homes would also be marked as affordable housing.
Colin Male, a local resident, spoke to oppose the plans for land off Burrowmoor Road next to the grade II listed Cherryholt Farmhouse. He said he was “very concerned” about the number of new developments proposed for the south of town. He said their combined impact would “put an intolerable strain on the road network” and claimed local services are “already at breaking point.”.
Simon Atha, an agent speaking on behalf of developer Richborough, said it was “important to recognise” the site had been earmarked for future development. A new roundabout and traffic lights at the junction with the A141 were proposed with the development which Mr Atha said should be seen “as a significant public benefit.”
He said that without the development, the county council would have to fund the upgrade “at significant cost to the ratepayer” for safety and capacity reasons. He said the council officer’s report recommended “firmly in favour of approval”.
Cllr Charlie Marks said: “Before starting this, you’ve said that the roundabout and traffic improvements will be introduced before the first property is sold – that’s a very expensive way forward.”
Mr Atha said they had been working a “long time” with the council’s highways team and the improvements were needed to lessen impact on traffic. He added that the full planning application could be refused when brought to the council if these were to be removed.
Cllr David Connor, chair of the committee, added: “This application, to me – seems too good to be true really.”
Mr Atha told councillors the developer would be contributing £345,000 towards the March Area Transport Study – which seeks to identify and improve traffic infrastructure.
Cllr Ian Benney said: “You say you’re putting £340,000 back into this – a roundabout is £2 million at least and it’s a drop in the ocean really to the money that March needs spending on. It sounds like big money – but in reality it’s not.
“It wouldn’t pay for a set of traffic lights, it certainly wouldn’t pay for a roundabout. This doesn’t just fall to you, it falls on the other applications that are coming towards us – but all of this traffic is going to grind March to a halt.”
Cllr French said she was “not happy at all”, adding: “I just cannot believe that we’re going to have a roundabout and then agreeing to have some traffic lights.
“It took 20 years to get the traffic lights at Gaul Road which should have been a roundabout and then we’re going to have another roundabout at Knights End Road. I just think this whole thing is going to be a complete and utter shambles.”
Cllr Marks added: “I think on Cllr French’s point this is almost becoming Milton Keynes – roundabout after roundabout”
The committee voted unanimously to approve the application.



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