Housing plan gets go-ahead

Controversial development approved despite objections

A controversial plan to build 265 new homes on land in Eye has been approved, despite objections from residents, councillors and Peterborough MP Paul Bristow.

Members of the city council planning and environmental protection committee gave the go-ahead for the outline application at their meeting on Tuesday despite numerous objections including one from the city MP.

Addressing the meeting, Cllr Nigel Simons, speaking as local ward councillor, said: “There are many issues with this application, but I will concentrate on the one which most concerns me.

“The number of objections to this outline application is unprecedented: A total of 381 individual written responses have been recorded with 378 of them objecting and just three in support.

“All the ward councillors object, as do all the parish councillors and even our local MP, Paul Bristow.

“Now, although we agree that this site is in the Local Plan for development, we were assured it would be developed with adequate infrastructure – but I can see no evidence of this.

“In addition, I believe a ‘fit-for-purpose’ link road from the A47 is required, and this was discussed with the developer about two-and -a-half years ago, but it seems they have no intention whatsoever of working with us.

“Indeed, it has been indicated that the only grounds that could be considered by this committee for the refusing of this development would be on highway grounds if there was an impact on highway safety leading to a severe impact on the road network.

“Anybody from Eye will testify how difficult it is at the present time to gain entry to or leave Eye at peak times because the current highway infrastructure is already at peak capacity. I have never felt so strongly against an application, and I would ask this committee to go against officers recommendations and refuse this application.”

Speaking on behalf of the developers Chris Dwan, planning director Allison Homes said: “The site of our outline application is located off Eyebury Road in the village of Eye approximately 0.5 km south from the village centre and immediately adjacent to the primary school. The village centre is designated as a conservation area.

“The site extends to around 13.1 hectares and is generally level with the land currently arable land and split into two distinct parts divided by a central drainage ditch which runs north to south. There is a public right of way running down one side of it which extends along the southern border of the site. The original application was for 300 dwellings and the highways impact report was based on that figure.

“With the reduction in the number of dwellings in the current outline application this was the ultimate factor which proved to be an acceptable impact level for highways who now have no objections.

“We’re well aware of the impact possibilities outlined by Cllr Simons and we feel that having done everything that we can to mitigate those and with the agreement of highways that we have now done everything that could be expected of us.”

Chair, Cllr Peter Hiller, said: “Having listened to everybody’s views and thoughts I think what we have to be careful of is that if we are objecting to this, we need planning reasons to do that rather than we just don’t like it.”

After more than an hour of debate, members voted by majority of seven in favour to three against, to grant the outline application.

The site of the development in Eye