Technical Moves Blog

Planning permission granted to developers to build on local beauty spot in Cambridge

It may be a derelict industrial site but plans to build 14 new houses were successfully granted yesterday despite objections raised about impacting on a local “beauty spot”.  The site in Ditton Walk, Cambridge has been regularly targeted by vandals and is regularly reported for anti-social behaviour

However – although there is call for much needed improvement within this site,  members of  the planning committee have raised their concerns about an adjacent meadow and the effect of the development will have on views from Ditton Meadows. These concerns were also replicated by a local conservation group called Cambridge Past, Present and Future.

A report in the Cambridge Evening News website stated: Cllr Damien Tunnacliffe, who represents West Chesterton, said: “I think we have a duty to keep Cambridge as green and as screened as possible. “It’s one thing to have the spire of a church peeking up but to have a rather industrial building at these eaves heights would be a blot on the view from the common.”

He was supported by Romsey’s Cllr Paul Saunders, who said: “The unique feature of Cambridge is the green ribbons, the river running through, and I think that has to be preserved.”

However, Petersfield’s Cllr Kevin Blencowe said houses bordered green spaces all along the river.He said: “This idea we have to hide what is clearly a housing site from view, I just don’t understand that at all. “Why shouldn’t people living in these developments have a good view themselves on to the common?”

Cllr John Hipkin, who represents Castle, said the existing buildings were “unsightly and underused”. He said: “It’s nice to know there will be a proper use made of that land and that space. “I cannot overstress how glad I am to see an application for family housing, three and four-bedroom houses, that’s very welcome.”

This isn’t the first application the committee has received for site – but one that was obviously more appealing. Back in 2009 an application was received to develop 52 flats which was subsequently refused. It would appear that the recent granted plans had considered the surrounding area and presented a better balance of family housing. Naturally the application may provide less housing but offers far more benefits to families, available space, and the local community resulting in lower impact on the natural surroundings.