Over 300 residents attended a public exhibition held last Thursday to view plans for a proposed residential development of up to 250 new homes on the Scotsdales site at Market Street, Fordham.

Up to 40 per cent of the homes will be affordable.

A spokesman for the developers Hill said there was the potential for a nominations agreement with East Cambs Council to ensure local people get first refusal over the affordable housing that will be provided.

The exhibition was held at the Sunflower Café on the Scotsdales site and some 325 local residents, councillors and other stakeholders attended the exhibition.

On display was a master plan for residential development and improvements to the existing garden centre.

The master plan has been developed by Scotsdales and Hill, an award winning privately owned housebuilder based in Cambridgeshire.

Hill says they were chosen by Scotsdales to bring forward a residential scheme for vacant and under-used land on the site.

A spokesman for Hill said: “Scotsdales remain committed to a continued presence in Fordham and plan to invest in improvements to the existing facilities at the garden centre.”

James Thomas, land and strategic projects manager for Hill, said: “We are working with Scotsdales to bring forward a high quality and sensitive development on the site, to help meet local housing needs.

“We were extremely pleased with the number of attendees and level of engagement from residents at the public exhibition.

“Hill Residential is committed to working with local residents and all local stakeholders to ensure that any development of the Scotsdales site responds to local need.”

He added: “We have begun the process of examining all of the feedback and are reviewing the proposals. We look forward to further discussion with the local community over the next few weeks.”