A new development of 540 homes on the outskirts of Soham, have been approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council. At the same meeting of the council’s planning committee approval was given for a replacement Staploe Medical Centre.
The committee dismissed the views of nearly 300 objectors to end the five year battle to build the homes.
This Land, the county council’s wholly owned property company, submitted the application and were delighted at the outcome.
This Land chief executive officer David Meek said: “The Soham Eastern Gateway plans are designed to support the revitalised town centre of Soham, one of the largest and fastest growing market towns in the area.
“And we are delighted that they have been approved.
“We have worked hard to deliver plans that offer a multitude of benefits for residents including new homes, a much-needed new medical centre and community space, while protecting and promoting biodiversity and green spaces that everybody can enjoy.”
The decision on the Soham Eastern Gateway neighbourhood, comprised of private and affordable homes, was made by the East Cambridgeshire District Council Planning Committee on 13 August.
A joint application by This Land and Mereside Medical for a state of the art new medical centre was also approved.
Access to the new medical centre will be created via the A142, in addition to the existing Brewhouse Lane access, to mitigate congestion in Soham town centre. A new safe pedestrian route across the A142 will be developed to provide access to acres of fenland and public rights of way.
The new neighbourhood will be located on the eastern edge of Soham between the Qua Fen and East Fen Commons and the A142.
While the popular existing commons and allotments on the western boundary of the site will remain untouched, there will be around 15 acres of public open spaces including a new corridor between Qua Fen Common and East Fen Common.
The committee insisted that a future application, when the technical details will require approval through what is known as a ‘reserved matters’ application, must come to them and not be dealt with by officers.
To learn more about Soham Eastern Gateway, visit: https://this-land.co.uk/soham-eastern-gateway-development/
