Huntingdon plan for 1,000 homes and primary school is approved

22 November 2023

Neve Gordon-Farleigh and Hannah brownBBC News and Local Democracy Reporting Service

News image — More detailed planning applications will need to be submitted as part of the project near Huntingdon

Bloor Homes and Narrowmine Properties A birds eye view artist impression of a housing development — More detailed planning applications will need to be submitted as part of the project near Huntingdon

Plans to build a development with 1,000 homes and a primary school have been approved by councillors.

The project includes designs for shops, a community centre, sport pitches and parks on land off Ermine Street on the edge of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.

Concerns had been raised over the volume of traffic that could be created by the new development.

However, independent councillor Steve McAdam said: "It looks like every stone has been turned."

The development will help Huntingdonshire District Council achieve its aim of building 1,440 new homes as part of its local plan.

The primary school will serve 420 children and offer 56 "early years" placements, developers say.

'Good balance'

Huntingdon Town Council and The Stukeleys Parish Council raised concerns about the volume of traffic.

David Joseph, from developers Bloor Homes and Narrowmine Properties, told the district council's development management committee on Monday that Cambridgeshire County Council was "satisfied" with its proposals to improve a nearby roundabout.

More detailed plans would need to be submitted before homes could be built.

Mr McAdam added: "It does seem to be quite a good balance between living space accommodation and the amount of green space available."

Fellow independent Tom Sanderson, the council's deputy executive leader and executive councillor for planning, said he was "really glad" the developers were contributing £1.2m towards a new special educational needs school in the area, as part of the development Section 106 agreements.