8 detached homes at Land At Manor Farm Close, Oakington And Westwick

What was proposed

Full planning permission was sought for eight detached three-bedroom homes, each with an open-sided car port.

“There are surface water flood risks on the site although is located in flood zone 1 (Low risk of fluvial flooding). The proposal 3.1 This application for full planning permission for the development of 8 no. detached dwellings. The proposed dwellings would each all be 3-bedroom units and have open sided car ports.”

Officer report

The site and access

The 0.57-hectare open site lies beside homes and agricultural land, with access between two Manor Farm Close properties.

“The site lies outside but adjacent to the Oakington Development Framework. Part of the site is classified as Grade 3 Agricultural Land (good to moderate). The site does fall in the Northstowe Major Development Site; however, it has not been included in any proposals for Northstowe that have come forward.”

“The proposed 8 dwellings would be accessed via an existing field access from Manor Farm Close which is sited between the existing dwelling and 16 and 21 Manor Farm Close. The access would pass close to these properties as well as the rear garden areas. Conservation Officer No objection 6.14 County Archaeology No objection 6.15 Ecology Officer No objection 6.16 Environmental Health No objection 6.17 S106 Officer Sought Contributions 6.20”

Officer report

Earlier applications and appeal

An earlier eight-home outline application was refused, but the appeal upheld only concerns about vibration affecting two neighbouring homes.

“A previous application 24/02384/OUT for residential development, which was outline application for 8no. dwellings with all matters reserved except for access, was refused on the 14.11.2024. The reasons for refusal referred to the principle of the development, limited width and safety of site access and vibration and emission issues of the site access to neighbouring properties.”

“As such, the current application to be presented at this Planning Committee is a resubmission of the previous refused application, which has been revised to address the dismissed appeal. The application is a full rather than previous Outline application.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The parish council, housing team and Anglian Water objected, while highways, environmental health, drainage, ecology, conservation and archaeology officers raised no objection subject to conditions.

“Sustainable Drainage Officer - No Objection. Although no information has been submitted with respect to surface water drainage and foul water drainage, as the site is not in or immediately adjacent to an area of identified flood risk, it is considered that the submission of a Surface Water Drainage Strategy and Foul Water Drainage Strategy can be addressed by way of condition. Suggested conditions of foul water drainage and surface water drainage.”

“No comments received. Anglia Water – Object 6.13 Anglian Water objects to the proposed development due to the intended connection to the public foul drainage network. This site is located within the catchment of the Uttons Drove Water Recycling Centre (WRC), which currently lacks the capacity to accommodate the additional flows that would be generated by the proposed development.”

Officer report

Residents’ views

Eighteen representations were received: sixteen objected over access, vibration, drainage, landscape, ecology and other issues, while two supported the homes’ wider benefits.

“Third party representations 7.1 18 representations have been received, 2 in support, 16 in objection.”

“Out of character/ appears bulky harm to the buffer zone. Disagree with the finding of the noise and vibration report and substantial noise and vibrations. Unrepresentative Testing Conditions. Opening up the field behind would mean opening the road to traffic for cars to drive through. The access road to the new development is too narrow. Access not appropriate. Highway safety issues / increased traffic / harm to pedestrians Virtual footway concerns. Street lighting.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard an objector, the applicant, and a parish council representative, alongside written objections and responses from officers.

What members debated

Members discussed the access, its construction standard, the landscape buffer, drainage, permitted development rights, sustainability, the appeal and vibration evidence.

“Planning Committee Wednesday, 12 November 2025 iii. The restriction of permitted development rights. iv. Drainage. v. The Planning Inspector’s appeal decision and the Planning Committee’s previous grounds of refusal which were not upheld. vi. The sustainability of the development. vii. The Vibrations Assessment and advice from Environmental Health that any vibration impacts would be well below the threshold.”

“The Delivery Manager offered the following summary of amendments to the officer’s recommendation for the planning application reflecting debate during the meeting: • to approve planning application 25/02567/FUL subject to the planning conditions set out in the officer’s report with delegated authority to officers to draft and make minor amendments to the conditions, including: o Amendments to condition 10 to: ▪ add the requirement for the access road to be constructed to a…”

Minutes

The decision

The application was approved with amended access-road requirements, revised permitted development reasoning and an additional electric vehicle charging condition.

“By 7 votes in favour (Cllrs Anna Bradnam, Ariel Cahn, Martin Cahn, Peter Fane, Tumi Hawkins, Heather Williams and Eileen Wilson), to 0 against, with 1 abstention (Cllr Peter Sandford), the Committee approved the application subject to the planning conditions set out in the officer’s report with delegated authority to officers to draft and make minor amendments to the conditions, including: • Amendments to condition 10 to: o add the requirement for the access road to be…”

Minutes