House to be demolished to make space for new flats

Plans to demolish a house and build 12 new assisted living flats have been approved by councillors.

A development management committee at Huntingdonshire District Council voted to approve the application to build three two-storey blocks of flats on land behind Peterborough Road in Farcet.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a house facing the road will be demolished to make space for a new access road, although Farcet Parish Council raised highways safety concerns and objected to the application.

Planning officers highlighted that no objection had been raised by the highways authority after conditions had been agreed.

The assisted living homes are proposed for people aged between 18 to 65 with learning, mental, and physical difficulties, the plans said.

Each flat would have its own living room, kitchen area, bedroom and bathroom.

Communal areas were also proposed within the development, as well as office space for carers.

The application said the new assisted living homes would allow people to live independently, while also having 24-hour access to support from care staff on site.

Officers pointed out that the assisted living flats would help to "address an identified need for specialist housing".

Councillor Steve Corney said he did not have any issues with the application and said he believed officers had "got this one right" by recommending approval.

Councillor Sam Wakeford said it was an "extremely hard application to disagree with".

When a decision on the application was put to a vote the committee agreed to approve the plans.

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