Bellway has started work on 107 sustainable homes in Longstanton, but readers have raised concerns over energy, infrastructure, and what ‘affordable’ really means

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Readers of CambridgeshireLive have been debating the news that work has started on housing in the region. Discussion focused on energy provision, allocation of properties, strain on local services, planning considerations, and the true meaning of “affordable”. Many highlighted modern features such as heat pumps and vehicle charging points. Others questioned whether hospitals and roads have sufficient capacity. Some debated household size and priority allocation.

A construction firm has started work on building more than 100 new sustainable properties in a Cambridgeshire village. Bellway began construction at Hatton Gate, off Station Road in Longstanton, at the beginning of May.

The scheme will comprise 107 properties ranging from one to four-bedroom homes, with 61 houses available for private purchase, 43 affordable properties, and three self-build plots. All the new properties on the site will feature air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points.

More than three acres of the site will consist of green open space incorporating wildlife areas, an existing pond, and a sustainable drainage scheme. There will also be a children’s play area, cycleways, and footpaths.

One reader, Calumen Nomen said: “‘All the new homes on the site will have air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points.’ Oh dear. That should be pretty hilarious when next Winter’s power cuts and black-outs start, courtesy of our 100% misdirected energy policy.”

Freddly asks: “Can we ensure these go to people who need them, not people who spent their money on the biggest SUV ambulance-blocker they could find? On the new estates near me, most households own 2 SUV ambulance-blockers, but would claim to have been impoverished by the cruel Labour government. Own your choices, stop being feeble.”

Calumen Nomen replies: “They’re hardly likely to go to people who don’t need them, are they?”

Wachoooo comments: “Families should be encouraged not to have more than 2 children. It’s also better for the environment.”

While over on our Facebook page, John M writes: “Crazy planners have no idea of impact.”

Michael H adds: “Define: ‘affordable’.”

Liz Y asks: “Is Cambridgeshire the only County in the UK. that needs thousands of houses? Why don’t they build more? London’s parks could accommodate more than a few.”

Roy S writes: “And no extra funding for Addenbrookes, all these extra homes at Camborne, Northstowe, Waterbeach, Cherry Hinton, etc, no wonder the hospital is struggling!”

Simon A K replies: “Plus more cars possibly another 200, how can adding all these cars be environmentally friendly?”

Christine H F says: “All badly built, looking the same and very expensive. Just noticed it’s Longstanton. Haven’t we got enough rubbish with Northstowe?”

Do you believe that more homes are needed in and around Cambridgeshire? Comment below or HERE to join in the conversation.

One person said the increase in traffic would be ‘significant’

Plans to build new flats and a shop in a Cambridgeshire suburb have been approved – despite backlash over more traffic in an already “congested” area. Back in April 2025, Jafbuild Limited submitted plans to build 14 new flats and add a shop on land off Aqua Drive in Hampton Water, Peterborough.

The flats proposed are all two-bedroom flats, with 28 car parking spaces proposed. There are also 19 allocated spaces for the shop.

Before approval, the applicant said the plans were “essential” to plans for the Hampton Water area. They also said it would provide a “much-needed convenience store and flats” to the area.

Peterborough City Council has now approved these plans. Despite the approval, the plans had 37 objections. Concerns were mainly raised about traffic in the area, with one objector describing the area as already “congested”.

One person, who lives in Aqua Drive, said the “cumulative traffic impact” would be “significant”. Another person in Broadstone Drive commented on traffic and said: “The traffic at the end of the school day is horrendous to the point where it is not even worth leaving your house to go out.

“Add more to that and mix in a few haulage trucks to service more building works for a few more years and we will have a major incident soon.”

Also concerned about traffic, a person in Banbury Drive said: “The additional traffic from this development will exacerbate existing congestion issues, particularly during peak hours. The council must assess whether the current road network can accommodate this growth without compromising safety.”

In a transport statement on behalf of the applicants, it was concluded the site was “well situated” to local amenities, and it was considered to not have “a severe residual impact on the local highway network”.

Though London and south-east England will still get temperatures up to 27C, it won’t be 28C needed to officially continue the heatwave.

However, Wales and south-western England will remain fairly hot, away from the cooler air moving in. Highs here could still reach 30C.

By Thursday, the supply of cooler air will be cut off as hot air re-surges from France once again. This means that temperatures will increase, with 30C back on the cards.

Most weather forecast models show that cooler weather will gradually come in again from Friday and into the weekend.

The jet stream, currently to the north of us, will wobble back southwards, meaning areas of low pressure, occasional rain, stronger winds and a drop in temperature as we head into the first week of June.

The Grafix Make Your Own Sand Bottle (Star & Heart) sold by Asda has been recalled because it may be contaminated with asbestos.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) said the product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.

They warned that asbestos is a banned substance and poses a risk to health even at low levels of exposure.

(Image: Asda/OPSS)

Anyone who has purchased the toy is being urged to stop using it immediately and dispose of it.

The OPSS said: “If the sand is still in its packaging, place in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double tape it securely, label it clearly and store in a secure location out of the reach of children.

“If the sand has been used, clean up sites where the product was used using wet cloths to avoid generating dust. Wear gloves and a mask. Double bag the sand, gloves, mask and cloths.

“Keep children and other people away from areas where the sand has been used until the area has been cleaned.

“Return the product to your nearest Asda store for a full refund. You do not need to provide the receipt.”

An Asda spokesman added: “Stop using the product immediately.

“RMS International are recalling the product as at the time of shipment and supply it passed the standard PLM testing, however new SEM testing has indicated that it may contain traces of asbestos.

“Asbestos fibres can present a health risk if released from the product and inhaled.

“As customer safety is our highest priority, we are undertaking this recall as a safety measure.

“For further information, please contact Asda or visit the OPSS page on asbestos in consumer products.”

The product had been sold exclusively at Asda supermarkets since August 2021.

Authorities in India say a woman with a suspected Ebola infection has been placed in quarantine at a hospital in the southern city of Bengaluru.

More follows

​Proposals to build a residential annexe for the mother of the owner of a Whitby house has been rejected by the council after neighbours warned of the impact of a proposed ‘parking platform’.

​The property at Westlands Avenue is located in a residential area of Whitby, less than half a mile from the town centre.

​Officers said that the proposed parking area would “harmfully interrupt an established boundary treatment, and its visual appearance would juxtapose harshly with the pleasant backdrop of the site, and the surrounding established residential area”.

9 Westlands Avenue, Garden Looking West. Applicant

​Planners also noted that the two-bed annexe would be located close to the neighbouring dwelling at Southlands Avenue, and it would result in an “unacceptable feeling of dominance and enclosure on this neighbouring property”.

​According to a council report, the proposed outdoor area would not be adequate for a two-bed and stated that the limited level of outdoor provision would result in “a cramped living space for future occupants and significantly harm the amenities for future occupiers of the annexe”.

Proposed Elevations, 9 Westlands Avenue. Applicant

Planning officers concluded: “It is clear that the level of parking and amenity for the proposed annexe could not be adequately provided for within the site, the sum of which would be parking serving the site which would overspill off-site into other residential areas, causing detrimental harm to the public highway.”

​The application was refused by North Yorkshire Council on Friday, May 22.

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While holidaymakers are reminded to check their passport is still valid before booking a holiday, there is another check they’ll need to do that they might not know about.

This week, His Majesty’s Passport Office issued a warning to all British passport holders, which applies to those with new and older passports.

Brits must sign passports to avoid airport delays

Travel tip: Sign your passport before you go — unsigned passports can cause delays at border control.
(Under 12s or those unable to sign don’t need to.)
👉 https://t.co/mW0bj5PS7h#TravelReady pic.twitter.com/138nBgc6k2

— His Majesty’s Passport Office (@HM_Passport) May 25, 2026

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On X, the official account for the Passport Office said: “Travel tip: Sign your passport before you go — unsigned passports can cause delays at border control.”

The government website further encourages people to make sure their passport is signed: “Sign your new passport as soon as you get it.

“You can’t use it until you do.”

Children under 12 don’t need to sign their passports, and the same applies to anyone who is unable to sign their passport due to a disability.

If this is the case, you will see ‘the holder is not required to sign’ on the page where your name and photo is.

Where should you sign your passport?

British passport holders must sign on the ‘holder’s signature’ line and make sure to use a black ballpoint pen.

If you make a mistake or need to find out more about the requirement, you can use the Passport Adviceline.

The new EU Entry and Exit System explained

You can use the online web chat, fill out an online enquiry form or contact HM Passport Office by phone or post.

How much does a British passport cost?

If you haven’t yet applied for a new passport, it’s worth knowing that prices increased in April.

Here are the new prices:

Standard online application:

• For adults – £102 (up from £94.50)
• For children – £66.50 (up from £61.50)

Standard postal application:

• For adults – £115.50 (up from £107)
• For children – £80 (up from £74)

A Premium Service (one day) application made from the UK will cost £239.50, up from £222.

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A standard online application that’s applied for from overseas will cost £116.50 for adults (increased from £108) and £75.50 for children (up from £70).

If you apply from overseas for a new standard passport by post, you can expect the price to jump from £120.50 to £130 for adults and from £82.50 to £89 for children.

Have you booked a holiday abroad this year? Tell us where you’re going in the comments below.

Energy experts say the scheme could transform freezing homes into cheaper-to-run properties, while helping households slash monthly costs during the cost-of-living squeeze.

Here’s what’s really on offer – and when it’s expected to happen.

Free home upgrades for millions

Under the Warm Homes Plan, around 3 million homes are expected to be improved by 2030.

That includes:

• 1.3 million social homes
• 1.7 million privately owned or rented properties funded directly through the scheme

If eligible, households could get upgrades completely free of charge, including:

• Solar panels
• Heat pumps
• Home batteries
• Loft insulation
• Cavity wall insulation

Sustainability expert Simon Bones says every property will get a tailored plan designed to cut bills and improve efficiency.

“The government’s home energy efficiency plans, largely contained in the Warm Homes Plan launched in January this year, aim to make homes in Britain more efficient,” he says.

And unlike older schemes focused mainly on insulation, the new push is heavily geared towards modern tech that can dramatically reduce energy use.

The full details are listed here.

Boiler upgrade scheme could cut £9,000 off bills

One of the biggest discounts already available is through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Right now, households can get:

• £7,500 towards a new heat pump
• Rising to £9,000 from July for some oil and LPG households switching to greener heating

That could wipe out a huge chunk of installation costs.

Heat pumps are usually expensive upfront, but experts say the grants make them far more realistic for ordinary households.

Landlords face strict deadline

Private landlords are also under pressure.

By October 2030, most rental properties will need to hit the equivalent of an EPC C energy rating – or landlords may not legally be able to rent them out.

That means millions of tenants could benefit from:

• Better insulation
• New heating systems
• Lower energy bills
• Warmer homes in winter

Experts warn a massive landlord retrofit scramble is now likely over the next few years.

New builds to come with solar panels as standard

The Government’s Future Homes Standard will also tighten rules for newly built homes from 2027.

Many new properties are expected to include:

• Solar panels as standard
• Air-source heat pumps
• Much tougher insulation requirements

The aim is to make homes cheaper to run from day one.

Experts say households should check their home’s EPC rating immediately.

If your property is rated D, E, F or G, you could be considered energy inefficient. That may improve your chances of qualifying for upgrades or support

Renters are being urged to contact landlords and ask what improvements are planned.

Homeowners are being told to look into:

• Green cashback mortgage deals
• Low-cost retrofit loans
• Free online home energy checks

Why do more UK homes not have solar panels and heat pumps?

Despite the generous grants, many households still face a major hurdle: upfront costs.

A full retrofit can still cost between £10,000 and £20,000, depending on the property.

The Government has promised £2 billion in low-cost loans, but details are still unclear.

Experts say cheaper finance could be the key to persuading more middle-income homeowners to upgrade.

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Supporters of the Warm Homes Plan say the long-term savings could be huge:

• Lower heating bills
• Reduced electricity costs
• Better protection from future energy price spikes
• More comfortable homes year-round

And with energy prices still a major concern for families across Britain, demand for grants and discounts is expected to soar.

​Albemarle Chambers in Scarborough’s town centre will be turned into a laundrette offering dry cleaning services after a plan by Unique Home Properties was given the green light.

​The public self-service laundrette will allow residents to wash and dry their own laundry using coin- or card-operated machines, while assisted laundry services, where customers can drop off laundry to be washed, dried, ironed and professionally packaged for later collection, will also be available.

​According to submitted plans, commercial and corporate laundry services will also be provided to service hotels, guesthouses, care homes and other corporate businesses.

​The laundry will be dropped off at the premises and collected following processing or delivered via managed transport arrangements, the plans state.

​Dry-cleaning services would operate as an ancillary component of the business.

​The vacant property was recently converted to create three commercial units on the ground floor with 12 residential apartments on the upper floors.

​The commercial unit 4 in Albemarle Crescent has been vacant for a long time, the applicant noted.

​Located off Westborough, the area is characterised by a “strong mix of retail, service, food and drink and professional uses at ground floor level, with residential apartments and ancillary uses above,” a report states.

​It adds that the site “benefits from excellent accessibility, being within walking distance of residential neighbourhoods, public transport routes and local amenities”.

​The application was approved by North Yorkshire Council, subject to conditions, on Friday, May 22.