Councillors have rejected plans for 37 new homes in March, citing flooding concerns and biodiversity issues as key reasons for the decision
March: So, it turns out that plans to build 37 new homes in March, Cambridgeshire, have hit a snag. Councillors just said no, mainly because they’re worried about flooding. They turned down two separate proposals—one for 18 homes and another for 19 homes. Both were deemed too risky when it comes to water.
During a recent meeting, the planning committee discussed these applications. The first one, for 18 homes, was already flagged for refusal by planning officers. They pointed out that the site didn’t pass a necessary flood risk test and would actually lose some biodiversity.
Apparently, parts of the land are in high-risk flood zones, so they needed to check if there were safer spots nearby. The developer had plans for a mix of four and three-bedroom homes, plus some green space and ponds. Sounds nice, right? But the officers weren’t convinced.
A rep for the developer, Shanna Jackson, argued that the homes would be built in the safest area of the site. She insisted that no one would be at risk. But some councillors weren’t buying it. They pointed out that the access road would still be in a flood zone, and that raised eyebrows.
Even though some councillors thought the project had potential, others were worried about the existing flooding issues. They felt it wouldn’t be fair to approve something that could cause problems for others.
Then there was the second proposal for 19 homes on a site where an old pub used to be. The developers claimed they could manage the flood risk, but the planning officers disagreed. They said the site was poorly connected to the town, meaning people would have to drive everywhere.
In the end, the councillors voted against both proposals. It looks like the plans for new homes in March will have to wait a bit longer.
