300 homes at School Road, Ely

What was proposed

Phase 5 would provide 300 homes, including 120 affordable homes, with open space, allotments, play areas, routes and related infrastructure.

“Proposal: Approval of reserved matters for layout, scale, appearance, access and landscaping following outline planning permission 13/00785/ESO for the erection of 300 new homes, landscaping, open space, allotments, pedestrian, cycle and vehicle routes and associated infrastructure pertaining to Phase 5 of the Orchards Green development and approval of relevant details for Phase 5 under conditions 14, 20, 21, 25, 26, 49, 50 and 56 of the outline planning permission…”

“The application follows the approval of outline permission 13/00785/ESO, on the allocated site ELY 1, for the development of up to 1,200 homes with associated employment and community uses, supporting infrastructure and open space/landscaping. This reserved matters application relates to Phase 5 of that outline application and is for 300 dwellings, including 120 affordable homes.”

Officer report

The site

The site is an agricultural field within the ELY 1 allocation, north of the primary school and bounded by the A10.

“The site is currently an agricultural field that forms part of the ELY 1 allocation within the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan. This parcel is situated to the north of the Isle of Ely Primary School and curves around behind King Edgar Close and Lily House to join Lynn Road opposite Mistletoe Lane. The site is bounded by the A10 to the west.”

Officer report

Planning history

The wider development received outline permission for up to 1,200 homes with employment, community uses, infrastructure and open space.

“Residential led development of up to 1,200 homes with associated employment and community uses (including care home or extra care home). Supporting infrastructure, and open space/landscaping on land to the west of Lynn Road in Ely…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal complied with the outline permission and policies, with benefits outweighing its limited impacts.

“On balance, the proposal is considered to be in accordance with the outline permission for the site and has been assessed against both local and national planning policy. The proposal is not considered to create significantly detrimental impacts in terms of visual amenity, residential amenity, highway safety, drainage and flood risk. The benefits of the development are considered to outweigh the limited impacts identified.”

Officer report

Residents’ concerns

Seven responses raised concerns about amenities, green space, traffic, parking, speed limits, drainage, overlooking, construction, wildlife, allotments, privacy and healthcare.

“Neighbours – 161 neighbouring properties were notified. Seven responses have been received and are summarised below. A full copy of the responses are available on the Council’s website.”

“Expected a convenience shop and small play area, lack of amenities • Lack of green space • Mistletoe Lane could not cope with the additional traffic to Lynn Road • Lack of parking and existing parking issues on Mistletoe Lane • The spine road is proposed to be 30mph, while the rest of Ely is 20mph.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent described the housing, open space, connections, affordable homes and design work, and answered members’ questions about access, waste, ecology and infrastructure.

Members’ debate

Members discussed shops, infrastructure, parking, play areas, trees, electric charging, bin collection, traffic, drainage, sewage and enforcement of conditions.

“PL030925 Minutes - page 6 suggested that planning conditions should be added on fully accessible play areas, tree planting, parking, electric charging and bin collection points.”

“Cllr Christine Whelan expressed her support for the number of affordable homes to be built in the development. However, the Council needed to listen to the concerns of residents regarding traffic, a lack of amenities, play areas, open spaces, minimising disruption to current residents and long term issues regarding drainage and sewage. She hoped that what was being promised would be delivered and if necessary, conditions enforced.”

Minutes

The vote

Members voted 11 to 1 in favour of the amended recommendation, including an additional waste collection condition.

“Cllr Keith Horgan proposed and Cllr Christine Colbert seconded the following additional condition “that in the event of any roads not being adopted and indemnity insurance not being agreed in relation to waste collection, then plans of further details of bin collection points will be put forward to the Council, approved in writing and implemented in accordance with the approved plans.”

“Cllr Christine Ambrose Smith and Cllr Chika Akinwale seconded the amended recommendation in the report, with the additional condition. A vote was taken and with 11 votes in favour and 1 against…”

Minutes