The plans had initially been rejected by a council but have now been given the go-ahead
Plans to build 280 new homes in a town on the Cambridgeshire border have been given the go-ahead after the planning inspector overturned a council’s decision to refuse planning permission. The planning inspector has concluded that Woolsington One can build on land off Barkway Road in Royston.
North Herts Council had rejected the plans due to the site not being allocated for housing by the authority. The authority said that it would “fail to provide adequate opportunity for travel by residents and visitors by non-car transport modes”.
The planning inspector has since concluded that permission should be granted as the “adverse impacts of the proposal would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits”. The inspector said: “Balanced against the minor harms, the benefits of the scheme include the provision of housing and affordable housing which carry significant weight.”
Of the 280 homes, on a 18.47 hectares site, the development will have a mix of housing. The development will see 168 homes on the open market and 40 percent (112 properties) will me made as affordable housing.
The inspector determined that the new homes “would not result in a severe impact on the local highway network with respect to the A10 Barkway Street/A10 Market Hill junction”.
The plans were first submitted in 2021 and have officially been approved in July 2026 despite the council’s refusal in 2025. However, the planning inspector has rejected a bid to make the council pay their legal costs.
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