Parish council calls for 180-home development plan to be rejected

Buckden Parish Council has recommended a planning application for 180 homes on agricultural land in the village be refused.

In an extra-ordinary meeting held by the parish council on April 26, it was agreed by councillors that the proposed development was too large for the village, would cause a serious burden on local roads, and would leave village services including schools and GP surgeries under strain.

Cheshire-based Gladman Developments has formally applied to Huntingdonshire District Council for permission in principle to build the homes on a site stretching to more than 26 acres off Lucks Lane.

The company announced its intentions for the site in early February, distributing more than 600 leaflets around the village and meeting with councillors on Buckden Parish Council.

Along with plans for more housing, Gladman has included provision for public open space, surface water attenuation ponds, and widespread landscaping, including paths and trees.

The company has also proposed to set aside 40 per cent of the development for affordable housing, about 72 homes.

But parish councillors have taken a dim view of the proposals, and submitted a 43-page report setting out its objections.

In the report, the council noted: “The application does not support local employment and will promote additional travel as Buckden already has the highest residents-to-jobs ratio of the Huntingdonshire key service centres.

“With no long-term employment being created by the proposal, there will be an increase in commuting by car to the towns or railway stations, adding to the congestion already experienced by users of the A1, A14 and A428 during the morning and afternoon peak hours.”

The district council will have the final say, however, with the plans likely to go before the development management panel in the months ahead.