Plans have been unveiled for 75 homes to be built on the outskirts of St Ives.

Property agents Savills held a public exhibition on October 16 revealing its proposals to replace the Vindis commercial vehicle showroom, on the corner of Low Road and London Road, with housing.

The 2.7-hectare plot, which lies in the Fenstanton parish, has been included in Huntingdonshire District Council’s draft Local Plan, as well as its previous Core Strategy, for approximately 50 homes. Savills claims that with a modern design it can accommodate more properties.

Garth Hanlon, Savills planning director, told The Hunts Post: “There will be a maximum of 75 homes on the site. The council initially has said approximately 50 homes could be built on the site, but I think we can have more houses with a better, more modern design.

“The site is in a sensitive location and will form the first impressions in coming into St Ives so we need to get the design right.”

James Rennie, one of the scheme’s designers, added: “The biggest consideration when designing this was the risk of flooding and we have incorporated flood mitigation measures into the scheme, like the three-storey homes with non-habitable space on the ground floor.

“It is quite a modern design, the existing Vindis building shows what you can achieve in this space.”

The site would be accessed from the existing Low Road junction. An ‘uncontrolled pedestrian crossing’ would be in place on Low Road, and a pedestrian entrance to the development would be added to London Road, where residents can cross close to the fuel station.

The outline planning application for the site is likely to be submitted to HDC by Christmas.

Vindis, which is expected to market the land if outline planning permission is granted, will relocate the commercial vehicle business to an alternative site.