A HOUSING association has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate after its plans for 24 new affordable homes in Haddenham were rejected.

Sanctuary Housing put forward proposals to build 19 houses, two flats and three bungalows on 1.6 acres of land near Northumbria Road in August last year.

Developers told the council that there was a “clear need” for new low cost and affordable housing in the village and said their scheme provided a good mix of rentable and shared-ownership properties.

The plans came in for criticism from villagers, however, who argued that it was an overdevelopment of the site and that the increased traffic would pose a danger to residents and road users alike.

After weeks of consideration, East Cambridgeshire District Council opted to reject the plans, citing concerns over access from the development into the centre of the village.

In its judgement, the council said: “The quality of access for pedestrians from the

site to the centre of Haddenham and the primary school is not considered to be acceptable.”

Sanctuary was unhappy with the decision however, and decided to take the case to appeal on March 1.

The planning inspector has set a deadline of March 15 for responses to a questionnaire and a deadline of April 12 for comments from the public. No date has yet been set for a visit to the site.

To have your say, visit www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs and use the case reference APP/V0510/A/13/2192733