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INQUIRY: Council advised to re-think homes plan
RESIDENTS have welcomed a new report which advises council chiefs to re-think plans for a 1,500 housing development in Peterborough.
RESIDENTS have welcomed a new report which advises council chiefs to re-think plans for a 1,500 housing development in Peterborough.A 300-acre plot of land to the south of Oakdale Avenue, in Stanground, had been earmarked for development under the Peterborough Local Plan – the blueprint for the city's future.
Local residents and councillors opposed the proposals, which also involved developer Persimmon Homes applying for permission to build a bypass for Stanground.
But a public inquiry into objections to the plan, the findings of which were announced yesterday, has recommended the council carry out more investigations into the development and whether it is the best option.
The inquiry report addresses nearly 1,300 objections to the plan, which relate to issues including housing, employment, transport, facilities and the environment.
John Riddington, deputy chairman of Sense for Stanground – a campaign group which opposes housing developments in the area – said: "We are delighted because the inspector has taken notice of our concerns.
"We are not against the bypass, but we think the houses would not be sustainable. However, the city council does not have to abide by what the inspector has said and our protests will continue until it decides to abandon the development."
Brian Coulson, chairman of the Stanground Community Association, added: "I support the residents who are against the new housing.
"These homes would mean about 3,000 more people coming to the area and it would put extra strain on the roads and schools.
"People want to see a plan to take more traffic off the Whittlesey Road before any new homes are built."
The proposed bypass would link the A605, east of Horsey Bridge, to the Fletton Parkway at junction 3A.
Today, council leader Ben Franklin said the bypass plans had been thrown into doubt by the report.
He said: "The bypass is still needed and we need this development to support it. If we don't get the development, we will have to tackle the bypass in a different manner.
"We would have to make a request from central Government in 2006 to consider funding a bypass for Stanground. But to wait that long would be a retrograde step. The developer was quite prepared to pay for this.''
Adrian Evans, managing director for Persimmon Homes East Midlands, said: "Following the publication of the extremely detailed report from the inspectors, we are now taking time to consider it in full, along with their recommendations.
"Therefore, we feel it would be inappropriate for us to comment further until we have thoroughly studied their findings."
Recommendation about site angers local people
THE 469-page report on the public inquiry into the Peterborough Local Plan was drawn up by Government Inspector Robin Brooks.
It contains more than 190 recommendations. In many cases, the inspector recommended no change to the plan.
One of his recommendations was that a 1.9 hectare site next to Itter Park, in Walton, Peterborough, should be allocated for housing.
But it has angered local people, who say the land should be set aside for community use instead.
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