The application by Abbey Homes for the ‘reserved matters’ at their site at Garden Close Sutton has been refused by East Cambridgeshire District Council today.

Abbey Homes still has its outline planning permission, but the council has refused this application for the details.

Eight reasons are given for the refusal.

1. The scale and form and density of the proposed development does not accord with the aims and objectives of the Sutton Neighbourhood Plan 2019 which requires development on the site to be predominantly low-density single-storey dwellings. The scheme as proposed therefore fails to respect its edge of settlement location and fails to preserve or enhance the views into and out of the settlement. The proposal conflicts with Policies ENV1 and ENV2 of the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015 and Policy NP5 of the Sutton Neighbourhood Plan 2019.
2. The reduction of open space, tree and hedge removal and changes to the drainage strategy have not been adequately assessed within the scheme as to what harm would occur to the ecology and protected species of the site, which also would result in irreparable damage to the Great Crested Newt habitats on and off the site. Furthermore an updated Ecology Management Plan (LEMP) has not been received and this document is an integral part of the s106 Agreement and secures the welfare of protected species and the management of ecology and biodiversity networks/systems. The proposal is therefore considered to be contrary to Policy ENV7 of the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015 and Policy NP2 of the Sutton Neighbourhood Plan 2019.
3. The mix of market housing proposed on site fails to contribute to meeting the needs of the village. The lack of 2 bedroom market dwellings as well as the needs of an ageing population looking to downsize into homes suitable for lifetime occupation have not been accommodated within the development. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy HOU1 of the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015 and Policy NP7 of the Sutton Neighbourhood Plan 2019.
4. The proposal fails to provide an acceptable turning and parking layout on site as well as limited visitor parking contrary to Policies COM7 and COM8 of the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015.
5. The location of an area of accessible public open space as well as the parking layout to the north of the site does not provide a suitable buffer to protect the residential amenities of an adjoining occupier who has protected characteristics. As such the scheme would not comply with Policy ENV2 of the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015 and Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.
6. Insufficient information has been provided to support the view that a sustainable urban drainage strategy can be delivered satisfactorily throughout the site without compromising the amenities of neighbouring properties through the raising of land levels to the rear of properties in Garden Close. The overbearing nature of the development would lead to a loss of privacy; overlooking; over shadowing which is exacerbated by the disparity in scale of the existing bungalows along the western boundary of the site and the applicant’s intention to provide two storey dwellings throughout the development. The proposal is contrary to Policies ENV1 and ENV2 of the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015 and Policy NP5 of the Sutton Neighbourhood Plan 2019.
7. No information has been provided with the reserved matters application of the design and layout of the POS nor the LEAP. Furthermore the applicants’ have failed to provide information on how much public open space has been lost due to the changes in layout and the introduction of SUDS features around the site. Moreover as the drainage strategy is in the process of agreement between the statutory consultee, neighbours, and the applicant, to which the Council has not been a party to, it is also not known how much of the POS would be lost to accommodate the new drainage strategy. Due to insufficient information being received to satisfy the Council’s concerns the proposal would conflict with Policy GROWTH 3 of the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015.
8. Due to the continued submission of contradictory tree information, combined with the unnecessary loss of category B trees and high likelihood of future pressures for tree removals and pruning that there would be an adverse impact on the settlement character and visual amenities of the area. The proposal is contrary to Policies ENV1 and ENV2 of the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015 and Policy NP5 of the Sutton Neighbourhood Plan 2019.

Responding to reports that the Government is set to spend £900k to repaint RAF Voyager in the colours of the Union Jack flag, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, Jamie Stone MP said: 

“This absurd waste of nearly £1 million at a time when so many families are struggling to put food on the table and so many are worried about their job security is insulting.

“The country is facing the biggest crisis in generations but Boris Johnson is concerned with the colours of his plane.

“This government continue to astound with their posturing. It is disgraceful. They should halt these plans and use the money to help those who need it most right now instead.” 

The first edition of a handbook for residents about Covid-19 Test and Trace in Cambridgeshire has been issued by the County Council.

More information is available here, including a link to download the handbook itself.

The handbook will be updated as Government advice changes – sounds like a full-time job for somebody!

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have supported proposals to fix the problem of the A10 traffic bottleneck at the BP roundabout at Ely – but say this must not come at the expense of safer provision for walkers, cyclists, and horse-riders.

At the County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee this morning (Tuesday 16 June) Lib Dem councillor Ian Manning supported proposals for improving both the A10/A142 BP garage roundabout and the A142 Lancaster Way roundabout, but pushed for action to overcome the lack of safe walking and cycling provision. He proposed an amendment to ask contractors to come up with proposals alongside pushing ahead with the roundabout upgrades, but the majority Conservative group signalled that they would reject this.

Cllr Manning said, “It’s shocking that, while there is real momentum nationally to encourage walking and cycling, the County Council are determined to proceed with two road improvement schemes that make no provision for walkers, cyclists or equestrians to cross the A10 and A142 in safety. Indeed senior councillors have admitted the changes will make matters even worse for non-drivers.

It will benefit everyone if, at the same time as we build in improvements for existing traffic, we also ensure that travellers in future can access jobs and services safely by bike or on foot.”

 In response, the Conservative committee chair agreed to write to the Combined Authority requesting Cllr Manning’s suggestions were looked into. Cllr Lorna Dupré, who represents Witchford on the County Council, commented, “Under the current proposals, the Lancaster Way business park, A10 leisure centre, and the North Ely developments, Ely railway station, the centre of Ely, and villages west of the BP roundabout will be even more cut off from each other for anyone without a car.

“The Mayor and councillors on the Combined Authority promised in their Local Transport Plan to prioritise walking and cycling. Now we need to ensure they are held to their promise.”

Free short courses are on offer to anyone in Cambridgeshire over the age of nineteen, from Cambridgeshire Skills.

And although the courses are online they all come with full tutor support. Each course should take about ten hours to complete.

From food safety to garden design, English for beginners to how to get that job in retail, there’s something for everyone, with further courses to be added shortly.

There’s nothing to lose from taking a look! Visit the website for more information and to book your free place.

This week’s headlines, courtesy of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Public Health intelligence team.

• There have been 1,230 laboratory-confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Cambridgeshire – an increase of 34 since last week. The rate per 100,000 population is still less than the England average.
• East Cambridgeshire still has the lowest rate in the county, and Huntingdonshire the highest. However, cases in Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire in the week starting 1 June grew more rapidly than in the previous week.
• Almost half (49.6 per cent) of Cambridgeshire care homes have reported an outbreak – more than the average for the East of England. This figure varies between one-third of care homes in East Cambridgeshire, to four-fifths of care homes in Cambridge.
• 22 deaths related to Covid-19 occurred among Cambridgeshire residents in the week ending 29 May – 10 of these occurred in a care home. 10 of the 22 deaths occurred in Huntingdonshire, and one in East Cambridgeshire. 80 deaths from other causes occurred in the same period.
• Overall there have been 357 Covid-19 deaths in Cambridgeshire between 27 March and 29 May. 225 of these have been in hospital.
• There have been no Covid-19 related death notifications in care homes in Cambridgeshire since 2 June.

The following planning applications in the Sutton division have been published by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

20/00408/FUL
Little Downham
Head Fen Farm Head Fen Pymoor
Change of use from agricultural barn to residential storage (retrospective).

20/00670/FUL
Sutton
102 High Street Sutton CB6 2NW
To erect log cabin in garden of dwelling to be used as an annexe.

20/00677/FUL
Witchford
27 Common Road Witchford CB6 2HY
Single storey extension to side and rear and re-location of existing conservatory as a greenhouse in rear garden.

20/00364/FUL
Wentworth
Sunny Acre Main Street Wentworth
Construction of one four-bed bungalow – resubmission of previously withdrawn 19/01319/FUL.

Further information can be found on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, comments should be addressed to the district council and not to me.  Comments may be made

• online using the council’s public access web page (the link above);
• by email to plservices@eastcambs.gov.uk;
• or by post to the Planning Department, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, CB7 4EE.

Many non-essential retail businesses will be reopening their doors from Monday 15 June – and Enterprise East Cambs has published an online guide to help shoppers plan their trips.

The guide offers general information about how to shop safely, as well as details of which businesses will be reopening in Ely, Littleport and Soham along with their opening hours, contact details, how many people are allowed in at once, and whether contactless payment is available.

Works on Histon Road Cambridge have reached their next phase which will require the closure of Histon Road to inbound motor traffic from Monday 29 June.

While the temporary closure is in place, Histon Road will be one-way, outbound only for all motor traffic. Cyclists and pedestrians will still be able to travel both ways on Histon Road throughout the roadworks period.

The road will be closed from just south of the King’s Hedges Road junction. This will allow inbound traffic to access King’s Hedges Road, and construction and farm traffic to enter the Darwin Green site.

Access to properties along Histon Road and its side roads will remain open at all times. For residents and businesses on the closed side of the road access will be permitted via site access points.

While the road is closed the diversion route will be via the A14, Milton Road and Victoria Road and will be signposted along the route as well as on the wider road network.

For more details about these works by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, visit https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/transport/transport-projects/histon-road/histon-road-construction

If you live in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough and have a bus pass, the times you can use it will change from next week.

At the start of the lockdown in March, both Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council worked with operators to allow concessionary bus passes to be used before 9:30AM. This meant bus pass holders were able to get to supermarkets early, and older residents were able to take advantage of the the reserved shopping slots offered to them at the time.

However, many more businesses will be reopening on 15 June. With more people likely to be using the buses, which are fewer than they were before the pandemic, along with the need to maintain social distancing, bus operators will no longer accept concessionary passes before 9:30AM from Monday 15 June onwards.

In addition, wearing face masks on public transport will become compulsory from Monday 15 June. Further details are on the Government’s website.