Two dwellings at Land North Of The Quadrant, Primrose Hill, Doddington

“A location plan and an indicative site layout (although not a requirement of a PiP application) accompany this submission. The indicative site layout proposes a new 5.5 metre wide shared access road to the north of the site leading to two dwellings with detached work units. The dwellings shown face onto Primrose Hill with large rear gardens containing a pond and planting around the site boundaries.”

“The current proposal is the first part of the Permission in Principle application; this ‘first stage’ establishes whether a site is suitable in principle only, and assesses the ‘principle’ issues, namely; (1) Location (2) Use, and (3) Amount of development proposed…”

“The application site is located outside of the settlement footprint of Doddington. The site is situated to the west of Primrose Hill and is in agricultural use. Adjacent development consists of a commercial building to the south, and a dwelling of ‘exceptional’ design approved under reference F/YR21/0015/F on the opposite side of Primrose Hill.”

“The site topography slopes away from the highway with a drain located to the eastern frontage of the site. The majority of the site is located in Flood Zone 1 with the rear of the site located in Flood Zones 2 and 3. A eastern frontage drain is subject to a low, medium and high annual likelihood of surface water flooding, however, this drain whilst immediately adjacent to the site frontage is outside of the red line boundary.”

“The site lies within Flood Zones 1, 2 and 3. Indicative built development is partially shown in flood zones 2 and 3. The application is not accompanied by a sequential test and as such insufficient assessment has been undertaken and inadequate information submitted to demonstrate that it is not possible for the development to be located on a site with a lower risk of flooding.”

“Therefore, the proposed development fails to comply with the Local Plan's spatial strategy and the site's location remains unsuitable for residential development in principle.”

“Objecting Comments Officer Response In a countryside location. This will be addressed in the Location section. No information to justify loss of agricultural land. This will be addressed in the Use section. There is no local or national policy related to workplace homes. This will be addressed in the Use section. Other workplace homes in the district have been converted into annexes or single storey dwellings. This will be addressed in the Use section. No evidence of demand.”

“Seven communications of support have been received. Three are from Doddington, on Benwick Road, Turf Fen Lane and Askham Row. Two are from Chatteris, on Gull Way and Lode Way. One supporter is from Williams Way in Manea and one from Brewin Avenue in March. The nearest supporter is 700 metres away from the proposal site.”

“Proposed by Councillor Marks, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and agreed that the application be GRANTED against the officer’s recommendation.”

“Members do not support the officer’s recommendation of refusal of planning permission as whilst they acknowledge this is an elsewhere location they feel that it has no harm or any impact on the area and brings economic benefits and a PIP application is only looking at whether the land is suitable for development, with the ability for flood risk to be mitigated against in a future application.”