Plans for 55 new homes in village refused

Plans for a housing development on the edge of a village near Peterborough have been refused by the city council.

Minster Property Group submitted an outline planning application for up to 55 homes to be built on land to the east of St Martins Road in Newborough.

An application in 2023, for up to 65 homes at the site, was also previously refused due to its location, highway impacts and harm to the character of the area.

The latest application, submitted in November last year, sought to address the previous reasons for refusal. However, Peterborough City Council planners rejected it on similar grounds.

Minster Property Group stated that the affordable housing development would have provided public open space, as well as improved footpath links into the village and to the adjoining cricket club.

It argued that a reduction of houses from the previous application would address the concerns around the adverse impact on the area's appearance.

However, in refusing the application, city council planners wrote: "The proposal, by virtue of its scale would result in adverse harm in terms of the appearance of the site and the edge of the settlement, with the 55 dwellings resulting in an unnecessary urbanising impact on this location.

"The proposal is unsympathetic to the local character and surrounding landscape setting."

Planners were also concerned about pedestrian and cycle access and said: "It has not been confirmed that safe and convenient access for pedestrians and cyclists can be achieved between the site and local facilities."

The applicant has six months to appeal the decision.

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