An appeal has been launched to try and get permission to build new homes on the edge of Meldreth. Last year South Cambridgeshire District Council rejected plans to redevelop Fieldgate Nurseries, in Station Road, into seven new homes, a replacement farm shop, and new commercial units.
The authority raised concerns about how people living in the homes would be able to access nearby villages safely, and opposed the loss of employment land. Fieldgate Nurseries Ltd has now submitted an appeal to the planning inspectorate to try and overturn this decision.
The district council refused the application on a number of grounds, including that the site is in an “unsustainable location” for new homes. The authority said: “Future occupants would not have convenient and safe access by all modes to the nearest villages and wider areas due to the lack of safe pedestrian crossings to the villages and public transport nodes.”
The district council also said there would be a “considerable loss of employment land” by building seven new homes on the site. It added that the ridge line of some of the new buildings was “excessive and unjustified”, highlighting that the existing building is single-storey.
Concerns were also raised that not enough information had been provided to assess the development against some planning policies, including how climate change mitigation and adaptation had been embedded into the development, and whether the development would have a detrimental impact on any important trees.
Fieldgate Nurseries Ltd hit back at the concerns raised by the district council in its appeal statement. The business argued that the site is well connected to both Meldreth and Melbourn. It said: “While the site is outside the development framework of Meldreth and Melbourn, it is important to recognise that this does not inherently render the location unsustainable.
“The proposed development is in close proximity to existing infrastructure, such as established pedestrian paths and transport links (such as bus services and railway links) that connect the site to local facilities as well as larger neighbouring settlements (such as Cambridge and Royston).
“This proximity to existing facilities would ensure that future occupants have safe and convenient access to nearby villages and public transport nodes. Furthermore, the development aligns with the broader objectives of the local plan to promote sustainable growth by enhancing underutilised sites and improving infrastructure where necessary.”
The company added that creating a mixed development of homes and businesses would help “contribute to the local economy” and “support local businesses”.
It said: “The current employment use is no longer viable due to changes in market demand along with the unsuitability nature/condition of the site for modern employment needs. The proposal includes a mixed-use approach of residential, whilst retaining a large part of the site for employment purposes, ensuring a balance between housing and employment opportunities.”
Fieldgate Nurseries also said that the development had been designed “with sensitivity to the surrounding environment” and highlighted the information it had provided to address the other concerns raised by the district council. A planning inspector will be asked to assess the application and the arguments made on both sides, before deciding whether the redevelopment can go ahead.