Four parking spaces for 28 homes plan criticised

A council-owned company has been criticised for designing only four car parking spaces for a new 28-home development.

This Land - owned by Cambridgeshire County Council - hopes to develop the properties at Kendal Court in Impington.

But the council's own highways department recommended the proposals were refused because of a "substantial parking shortfall". Meanwhile, parish councillor Sarah Allen told a meeting on Tuesday there was an "overwhelming feeling that this [development] wasn't an asset to this village".

This Land said the "proposed development will deliver high-quality housing".

The homes would be built on the site where a funeral service has stood for more than two decades.

In November, Richard Stebbings, who runs the service, said he was "shocked" after learning his leased premises had been sold without his knowledge.

Plans to bring homes to the site were previously refused in 2021, but This Land is looking at building 15 one-bedroom and 13 two-bedroom properties, as well as a commercial unit.

This Land was set up to develop properties on council-owned land in 2016, but is yet to turn a profit.

The authority has had to play down fears over the £120m it has loaned This Land.

This Land said it was not viable to build any affordable homes at Kendal Court, just as it told the council for its the plan that was rejected in 2021.

While 54 bike parking spaces are included, the developer proposes it "to be almost car free", apart from one disabled space and three spaces for the pay-as-you-go Enterprise Car Club vehicles.

In its written response to the application, the highways department said: "The applicant has not sufficiently demonstrated that the parking arrangements proposed... would not create conditions detrimental to highway safety within the vicinity of the site, posing an unacceptable risk to road users."

On Tuesday, the Histon and Impington Parish Council planning and development committee recommended unanimously that the application be refused by South Cambridgeshire District Council.

While one member of the public did speak in favour - arguing it would support single people and young couples – three others made comments against.

One said "the parking is an absolute nightmare as it is", while another added that the pictures of the proposed development "are a total load of rubbish".

This Land said the council was consulting with a "number of different groups" about the plans, including residents.

"We welcome their feedback throughout this process," a spokesperson said.

They said the plans had been developed in line with the neighbourhood plans of the district council, and of Histon and Impington.

"We are confident that the proposed development will deliver high-quality housing that meets both housing needs and the objectives of the allocation," they said.

Cambridgeshire County Council said while it "wholly owns This Land Ltd as shareholder, it is the role of the company to manage their own operational affairs, such as day-to-day decisions relating to specific proposed developments".

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