The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
New lease of life for old Dairy Crest site
Aformer industrial site in Peterborough which has become an eyesore and a magnet for arsonists, flytippers and vandals is to be cleared to make way for 90 new homes. Members of Peterborough City Council’s planning committee have given the go- ahead for the development at the old Dairy Crest site in Midland Road, West Town.
The homes proposal which had already won the backing of the council’s planning officers, was to construct 56 two- bed, 32 three- bed, and two four- bed properties on the 1.72 hectare site.
Vicky Hurrell, principal development management officer, said it was hoped the build would “kick start” regeneration in an area of the city which also included the disused Peterborough District Hospital site nearby.
Cllr Peter Hiller, cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and planning, said: “I’m very pleased this horrible eyesore of a site is now destined to be regenerated.”
Cllr Chris Ash said he had a number of concerns about the development, including: its proximity to the railway line, questioning it would prove a hazard during the build, whether it would “sterilise” improve- ments to the area and if there were enough school places locally.
He said : “While I agree it’s going to tidy up an area, what I’m concerned about is we are going to make problems for a short- term fix that might come to haunt us in the future.”
Miss Hurrell said the developers are working with Network Rail in relation to the part of the site near the railway line, that it would not prevent other improvement works in the area, and its impact would be mitigated by it being a “relatively small development”.
She said: “We do think this site is capable of being developed at this stage and hopeful- ly that will be a trigger for the others proposals coming forward.”
Cllr Ash abstained in the vote on the application but all other councillors backed the development.
Cllr Graham Casey said: “I think the look of it is very pleasing. If it sets the standard for the rest of the development that would be a good thing.”