A set of proposals to build 500 homes and a community centre at the former RAF Brampton have been granted planning permission by the district council.

The two outline planning applications, for 500 homes, allotments, open space and shop space, includes the retention of a former coach house and stables, officer’s mess and lodge, which are all listed buildings.

The plan also includes building a new community centre, care home, and creating access roads. In total, the development site measures almost 70 acres.

As part of a planning agreement struck between the developer and Huntingdonshire District Council, £50,000 will be provided towards furnishing the new community facility, £4,500 to help set up new community groups, and about £34,000 towards a new library.

Contributions will also be made to help accommodate new pupils in the village school, improve public transport, and mitigate the impact of traffic on the wider road network.

In a report that went before councillors on the development panel, planning officer Charlotte Fox said: “Having fully assessed all three dimensions of sustainable development; economic, social and environmental it is concluded that the development of this site will contribute to building a strong and competitive economy, provide a supply of housing to help meet current and future generations, providing accessible services and local infrastructure and will provide positive improvements in the quality of the built, natural and historic environment.”

The MOD announced in 2006 that RAF Brampton was surplus to requirements and in April 2013, it was downgraded and finally closed at the end of 2013. In December 2014, the land came under the ownership of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation which sold it to developers.

The plans were handled by St Ives-based developer Campbell Buchanan, which acted on behalf of property investment company JCAM Commercial Real Estate Property VII Ltd.