Following over six months of community consultation, Hill and Scotsdales have submitted a planning application to East Cambridgeshire District Council for 150 homes, a 75-bed care home and a local shop in Fordham.

The application for land behind the Scotsdales garden centre also includes public open space and associated infrastructure with access from Market Street/Soham Road and Station Road.

Hill and Scotsdales held two public exhibitions with the first being held last October, attracting 325 residents. This exhibition enabled residents to view the initial proposals along with the chance to provide feedback.

Feedback was analysed in detail by the project team and led to a number of major changes to the proposals, including:

• Reduction of the number of homes from 250 to 150

• Providing space for a new shop within the development, in an accessible location

• Including medical consultation space which could either be located within the shop or Care Home

• The removal of the southern vehicular access onto Market Street but retained a pedestrian/cycle access route

• Providing a pelican crossing on Market Street

• Ensuring integration with the wider village by locating the playgrounds nearer to the entrances to the site

• Changing the site layout to accommodate more homes to be accessed from the Station Road entrance

A second exhibition was held in March to explain how the feedback from the first exhibition had been incorporated into the plans. 145 people attended.

Colin Campbell, head of strategic land at Hill commented: “By working closely with the local community, we have devised a scheme that will provide much needed organic growth for the village, whilst ensuring that its unique character is maintained.

“Scotdales is to remain open and will remain at the heart of the community in Fordham.”

East Cambridgeshire District Council will now open a period of consultation during which local residents and stakeholders can provide their views on the planning application. The project team will continue to update with local stakeholders during this period.

Residents can stay updated by visiting www.fordhamhill.co.uk.