Councillors at Huntingdonshire District Council will be asked to decide whether a development of up to 185 new homes in Farcet can go ahead or not.
Land off Peterborough Road where 185 new homes are proposed to be built.(Image: Google)
Plans to build up to 185 new homes in Farcet have faced backlash from some in the area and have been branded as “utter madness”. Huntingdonshire District Council is set to decide next week (January 19) whether the development can go ahead or not.
The new homes are proposed to be built on farmland to the west of Peterborough Road in Farcet. The developers, Hallam Land and Persimmon Homes East Midlands, said 40 per cent of the new homes would be made available as affordable housing, either rented or shared ownership.
The developers said their plans offered a range of benefits, including “addressing local needs and a national imperative” to build more homes. They also said an “attractive” area of open space would be created within the development for people to use.
The developers added that financial contributions could also be made towards road safety improvements in the area. The developers also highlighted that the district council does not currently have a five year housing land supply, which creates a ‘tilted balance’ in planning decisions where there is a “presumption in favour of sustainable development”.
Concerns about the proposed development have been raised by some people in the village, with formal objections being lodged by 85 addresses. A number of people raised concerns about the impact the new homes would have on services in the area, and the impact on traffic.
One objector said: “The infrastructure in the surrounding area is already at a straining point, primary school, secondary school at full capacity, local doctors at full capacity; the proposal would only put further strain on these facilities.
“The main road through Farcet is already busier than it has ever been, I’ve lost count at how many problems there have been on the main road this last year or two, from sinkholes, to water leaks. Adding further strain on these things would be utter madness.”
Another objector argued that the number of homes planned is “simply far too grand for what the infrastructure can take”. They said: “We’ve had so many issues in the last 12 months of broken and decaying water pipes/sewage pipes; there have been large sinkholes.
“The main road through Farcet is unable to cope with the current volume of traffic and is in desperate need of repair and updating. Even recently we’ve had large tailbacks through the village. It is getting increasingly harder and dangerous to get off driveways along Peterborough Road.”
A planning officer’s report published ahead of the meeting next week recognised the “extensive objections” raising traffic concerns. The report highlighted that a number of improvements have been proposed by the developer, including a new toucan crossing on Peterborough Road, and new pathways.
It also said the site is within walking and cycling distance of a “range of key facilities and amenities”. Officers did highlight that the new homes are proposed to be built on Grade 3 agricultural land, which they said is considered “amongst the best and most versatile agricultural land”.
The report said losing this quality of farmland by building on it is against policy. However, the report also highlighted the benefits officers said the development would offer, including helping the authority get closer to meeting its five year housing land supply target.
The report said the developer had agreed that more detailed applications for the homes will come forward within two years. Officers also said they had to give “substantial weight” to the benefit of 74 new affordable homes being built in the area.
The report said: “Whilst some conflict/harm has been identified in relation to agricultural land, it is concluded that the identified harm would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified benefits when taking all the positives and negatives of the proposal into account.”
Planning officers have recommended that the outline application would be approved subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 obligation. Councillors will be asked to make the final decision at the meeting next week.
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