A controversial plan – first submitted in July- by Ely based property company Rannerlow to convert a house in the conservation area to two homes is being recommended for approval.

The company will be relying on an assessment by East Cambs planners that because the council has not been able to meet supply and demand, then all proposals have to be viewed differently.

Planning manager Rebecca Saunt will tell the planning committee on January 6: “The local planning authority is not currently able to demonstrate that it has an adequate five year supply of land for housing.

“Therefore, all local planning policies relating to the supply of housing must be considered out of date.”

She says the council is obliged to assess all applications in favour of sustainable development set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

“This means that development proposals should be approved unless any adverse effects of the development significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits

serving and enhancing the historic environment,” she says.

This could be good news for Rannerlow who want to convert 2 Barton Square into two separate homes – even though parking space will be available for only one of them.

Councillors Lis Every and Richard Hobbs, the ward councillors, oppose the application which they insist is over development and will have an affect on the historic outlook of the nearby cathedral.

Objections that included loss of two trees no longer apply, councillors will be told, since two replacements will compensate for the loss.

One supporter of the scheme told the council that “given the county council cut down two trees on the square with no consultation seems harsh to refuse this application on the removal of two unremarkable trees”.

And the committee will hear that planners believe an extension to the property has been “designed sympathetically to the house”.

As regards only one parking space, planners point out that many homes in Ely have limited or no access to parking.

“On balance it is considered that the lack of one parking space would not be sufficient reason to warrant the refusal of this application,” says Ms Saunt.