Home in the countryside is too far from town centre say planners who want it refused

Plans were submitted for a detached home in Great Fen Road, which is four miles from Soham town centre.

Gareth Pritchard, East Cambs District planning officer, said: ““It is considered to be in a countryside location where development ins tightly controlled/

“The site is currently occupied with an office associated with the timber yard to the north west and is also used for storage of timber products. The site is located within flood zone three.

“The proposal would provide an additional residential dwelling to the district’s housing stock which would be built to modern, sustainable building standards.”

He said it would have a: “Positive contribution to the local and wider economy in the short term through construction work.

“However, it is considered that these benefits would be outweighed by the significant and demonstrable harm which would be caused by the siting of an additional dwelling in an unsustainable location and increasing reliance on the car to gain access to services and facilities.

“Further harm is caused by the increased risks as a result of an additional dwelling,” he added.

The application by Mr and Mrs Mutton is being recommended for refusal.

A report by Mr Pritchard said that because the location is within the countryside, being four miles from the town centre, it was considered to be unsustainable.

“The proposal doesn’t not promote sustainable forms of transport and the future residents of this additional dwelling will be reliant on more vehicles in order to access any local services of facilities.”

The site had an agricultural occupancy removed in 2001.

The timber yard was approved in 2011 and opening hour changes agreed in 2013. An agricultural building was approved in 2013 and two years later the go ahead given for a replacement office building.

The application will be decided on Wednesday 7.