Developer earmarks brownfield site in Huntingdon for new housing

A proposal to build more than 300 homes on derelict land in the centre of Huntingdon has been unveiled by developers.

The site, between St John’s Street and Edison Bell Way, was due to house a new Sainsbury’s supermarket but, after the company pulled out in 2015, planning

permission is now being sought by developers Lochailort.

The scheme could see a development of up to 309 homes which will be a majority

of one and two-bedroom flats, along with houses and retail units.

Hugo Haig, managing director, told The Hunts Post: “It is quite an exciting site, it is brownfield and derelict in the heart of Huntingdon close to the railway station and the town centre – it links the two and will be a gateway site to Huntingdon.

“It is a brownfield site which had planning permission for a Sainsbury’s super-market but the company decided it didn’t want to do it and shelved their plans, and we bought the site.”

The company, which is currently building about 600 homes at RAF Brampton, hopes, if given the go-ahead, that building the hundreds of homes will create an attractive and welcoming site to the town.

“It is an opportunity to put people back into the town centre,” Mr Haig added.

The London-based firm has already began decontaminating the site after applying for planning permission, in December last year, to turn the space into a car park for three years.

“We have started to decontaminate the site which is quite a lengthy process,” Mr

Haig said.

“But because of the progress we have made with our consultations it will go straight to the housing scheme rather than the car park.”

Along with the housing scheme, the company has also proposed a retail development, neighbouring Aldi in Edison Bell Way.

According to Mr Haig, the units will be smaller and are likely to be a drive-through coffee shop and a fast food restaurant. It is proposed that the firm will submit a planing application in the next couple of months.