A housing developer has insisted that time is of the essence after plans for more than 100 homes on the site of a former forensic laboratory in Huntingdon were re-submitted.

Persimmon Homes was refused permission for 103 houses on the brownfield land, off Christie Drive, in Hinchingbrooke, in February, but after talks with Huntingdonshire District Council the developer has returned with a redesigned proposal.

Within the proposal, the firm says that, despite councillors’ concerns that the development “would not be sustainable”, it has designed its new plan with “ease of movement and connectivity” in mind.

Simon McDonald, managing director of Persimmon Homes East Midlands, said: “We have re-submitted this planning application for this vacant, brownfield piece of land that provides no benefit to the community and is a blot on the landscape.

“Some members of the planning committee have concerns that the scheme should not be brought forward prior to the completion of the A14 works.

“Additional information in this new application explains why we believe it is appropriate to commence work on this site before the A14 works are completed. We strongly believe that this site is a sustainable, suitable and deliverable site for development in a thriving town.”

Though the previous plan caused concern among those living close to the area and members of the council’s development management committee, Persimmon Homes has chosen not to include another entrance to the site, instead sticking to the access point off Christie Drive.

However, the application, unlike its predecessor, has included an updated traffic survey which, contrary to residents and councillors’ views, concludes that there isn’t a traffic problem from the development site into Huntingdon.

Changes have also been made to the amount of green space that is planned for the site as councillors also questioned the amount of additional infrastructure.

“This is a localised area of public open space provided central within the development. The space offers relief of the built form and a localised area of space,” the proposal states. A local area of play is situated within the space which is easily accessible by the footpath that runs along the northern edge of the space.”

To view the application, log on to www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk.