Fen End, South Cambridgeshire, UK
Quick Facts
PHASE BREAKDOWN
AERIAL VIEW
LOCATION
Site Information
The site is located within the northern boundary of the village of Willingham and is surrounded by residential development to its south, east and west and agricultural land to its north with access off Fen End itself. The site is 1 acre in size but forms part of a greater development site of approximately 7 acres that is being promoted for residential development as a whole. Willingham is located 12 miles to the northwest of Cambridgeshire and is easily reached via the A14 which links to the M11 south and the A1M north.
Our Planning Department Comments
- Our Fen End site lies within the village of Willingham which is located within the jurisdiction of South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC). SCDC is one of four partners that form part of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan working alongside Cambridgeshire County Council, the University of Cambridge and Cambridge City Council. The emerging Cambridge Local Plan is a collaboration between SCDC and Cambridge City Council to ensure that the two areas can be sustainably managed.
- The Local Plan was submitted for examination in March 2014 and has made provision for 19,500 new homes over the plan period including previous plan allocations in the greater Cambridgeshire area. However, due to rapid growth of the greater Cambridgeshire area, the identified housing need has now been set at 33,500 homes. As a result of the prolonged examination period of the submitted Local Plan coupled with the significant deficit between the numbers provided in the submitted Plan and the identified need, the Planning Inspector has asked for a modified Plan to be submitted for review with its anticipated adoption set for 2022
- The Fen End site demonstrates strong suitability given its position as a sustainable urban extension site within the settlement of Willingham and its access to the village’s main services. European Property Ventures secured a Promotion Agreement on the entire site in 2017 and the site was submitted to the amended Local Plan review in April 2019. The site is deemed a medium sized site which is being promoted to deliver circa 60 dwellings. Given its strong suitability for development, preparations are also being made for a direct planning application to be made the LPA and Parish Council which will be alongside its promotion to the Cambridge Local Plan.
Latest Planning Update
The Greater Cambridge Authority is continuing its work on a joint development plan that encompasses both South Cambridge District Council and Cambridge City. Work on this plan commenced in 2020 with consultations being held in November/December 2021 and further consultations during the course of 2022. Submissions were made on behalf of both sites as well as at the Call for Sites process.
The council are currently working through all the issues that were raised from the above consultations and these will be formally discussed internally during January and February 2023 before work on the draft plan can commence in mid to Q3 2023.
