Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes from the previous meetings of 11 and 25 June 2025.

The minutes of the 11 and 25 June 2025 were signed and agreed as accurate records.

To determine the application.

Richard Fitzjohn presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Oliver Corbett, the agent, and Richard Scott, Headteacher. Mr Scott advised members that he was the Executive Principal of the new Wisbech Academy and would be speaking about the opportunity to represent the young people of Wisbech. He stated that the new school is a response to a clear and growing need, they have already received 200 applicants for a second intake of the Wisbech Academy and the neighbouring school has received 400.

Mr Scott expressed the opinion that it tells them that the families of Wisbech are seeking a high quality education for their children. He expressed the view that the new Wisbech Academy will be a distinct school with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and maths and a smaller more personalised environment.

Mr Scott stated that a state of the art permanent building would be ideal in supporting such as curriculum and it would also not be isolated with its location next to Thomas Clarkson Academy allows for meaningful collaboration, something which is already underway and it will bring shared benefits from curriculum support to economies of scale and the campus with its wide range of sports facilities will also be available to the wider community. He stated that they are proud that Thomas Clarkson achieved two consecutive good Ofsted ratings, the first in its history, and this gives them the confidence that as part of Brooke Weston Trust, the same academy, the new school will be in strong hands, with a leadership team that understands the local context and is committed to continuous improvement.

Mr Scott stated that many of its young pupils face significant challenges and the demographic of the school represents some of the poorest youngsters in Cambridgeshire and in the East of England more generally. He continued that the school will offer them not just a place to learn but a place to belong, be supported and to thrive, it will open doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed.

Mr Scott added that the school also offers a broad and enriching curriculum with access to high quality facilities and extra curricular activities that will help to build confidence and a sense of purpose for these young people. He stated that he wants every child to feel that their aspirations are valid and achievable and that they are part of a school community that believes in their potential.

Mr Scott recognised the concerns raised about traffic and congestion and advised that a robust travel plan will be in place from the outset and reviewed annually. He stated that they are committed to being good neighbours and to working with the community to ensure the school’s presence is a positive one, above all they see this as a chance to invest in the future of Wisbech, its young people, its families and its wider community, hoping that the committee would see the value of  ...  view the full minutes text for item P24/25

To determine the application.

Alan Davies presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Kate Wood, the agent. Ms Wood stated that the application is for 21 houses on this partly brownfield site immediately adjacent to the edge of the town of Chatteris. She continued that the proposed development will facilitate the removal and remediation of the noisy engineering company on the site, which will now be able to move to a larger and more modern facility elsewhere in Chatteris.

Ms Wood expressed the view that the main positive impact of the development will be the improvement of the road at West Street, all the way from where it starts to be an unmade track further up the street. She feels the road improvement will benefit neighbouring dwellings that are effectively accessing their properties off a track currently as well as providing a safer length of access for the many dog walkers using this route towards the pocket park which is further south.

Ms Wood reminded members that a similar application on this site was supported in principle by the committee in 2022 but at that time they had not resolved the upgrade of the byway through the Definitive Map Modification process with the Highway Authority and, therefore, the application was refused for that reason alone. She continued that since then they have worked through that process with the Public Rights of Way Team at the County Council and the byway has been formalised in its width through their processes and that has allowed them to reapply for this application.

Ms Wood made the point that the process resulted in the width of the byway being defined as wider than assumed at the northern end of the application site and this has required them to lose one dwelling from the scheme so that they could move the frontage dwellings back off the definitive right of way and while the access itself will be created as a normal estate road the hatched area shown on the presentation screen will fall into the front gardens of the first two properties and the Highway Authority requires them to provide highway markers through these gardens to make it clear which is highway and which is private land.

Ms Wood expressed the view that committee can be confident to approve the application in the knowledge that a proper access can be provided now and a further benefit of the application is that it provides public open space which will result, in her opinion, in a more attractive and pleasant walking route through the development itself as well as ecological enhancements. She referred to Paragraph 10.60 of the officer’s report where it mentions the timing of the application was such that BNG is not required, however, they did undertake a biodiversity assessment which concluded that there would be a net gain in area habitat of 28% and an absolute gain in linear habitat from the baseline of zero so, in her  ...  view the full minutes text for item P25/25

To determine the application.

Alan Davies presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Councillor Ruth Hufton of Doddington Parish Council. Councillor Hufton stated that Doddington Parish Council objects to the application as Doddington was designated a growth village in the current Local Plan and in addition to the 127 homes, the 15% growth required, a further 196 have already been built and they have confirmation from FDC that no further housing would be required under that plan. She made the point that there are no affordable homes scheduled and 106 monies will not be allocated to be used in the village, with it likely to be used elsewhere in Fenland.

Councillor Hufton stated that the developer speaks of this development being perfect for the elderly, but, in her view, to access the High Street from the south of the new development will mean a 1500 metre walk through the new site into Juniper Close onto Wood Street before joining High Street, with there being no access directly onto High Street. She feels that this means that more car journeys will be made leading to additional congestion through the pinch point at the top of Wood Street that opens onto a Puffin crossing taking children to and from the village school.

Councillor Hufton expressed the opinion that construction traffic will cause noise, dirt and congestion on the High Street through phase one of Juniper Close and onto Wood Street, which is narrow making it difficult for two HGVs to pass each other. She understands that the plan changes at 9 Sutton Way to extend the garden and provide a walkway into the site has not been discussed with or agreed by the resident.

Councillor Hufton stated that residents of 9 The Larches have serious concerns about the impact of this development on their home, with their main living spaces sitting directly on the eastern boundary next to plot 7’s proposed 5.2 metre high garage. She expressed the view that this structure will be overbearing and cause significant overshadowing particularly in the garden room, which is used daily as a home office and this room is not shown on the plans so the loss of light has not been properly assessed, with their home already suffering from poor natural light and the addition of a pond area and 90 metres of dense shrubbery, which could reach 3.3 to 6 metres in height will worsen this further and force greater reliance on artificial lighting.

Councillor Hufton expressed the opinion that due to the difference in land levels, the public pond will overlook their home and garden, severely reducing privacy, whilst also exposing the public space to views from The Larches. She feels the risk of stagnant water and health impacts so close to a kitchen, diner and patio has not been addressed, with these serious impacts on residential amenities having not been properly considered.

Councillor Hufton stated that the Grade II Listed Windmill Tower is the only  ...  view the full minutes text for item P26/25

To determine the application.

This application was withdrawn.

To determine an appropriate course of action.

Members considered what action to take on the owner of land west of 54 Church Street accessed off Park Lane, Whittlesey for failure to comply with the requirements of a Notice under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) presented by Jade Allen.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Benney and AGREED that  officers commence further action under the provisions of Section 216 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and authorised referring the matter to the Council’s Legal Officer to commence prosecution proceedings for non-compliance with the requirements of the Notice.

(Members resolved to exclude the public for this item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972)

To determine an appropriate course of action.

Members considered what action to take on the owner of 10 Market Place, Wisbech for failure to comply with the requirements of a Notice under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) presented by Matthew Leigh.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses.

Proposed by Councillor Meekins, seconded by Councillor Purser and AGREED that officers commence further action under the provisions of Section 216 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and authorised referring the matter to the Council’s Legal Officer to commence prosecution proceedings for non-compliance with the requirements of the Notice.

(Members resolved to exclude the public for this item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972)

To determine an appropriate course of action.

Members considered what action to take on the owner of Fenview Lodge, 5 Fen View, Doddington for failure to comply with the requirements of a Notice under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) presented by Jade Allen.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses.

Proposed by Councillor Connor, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and AGREED that officers commence further action under the provisions of Section 216 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and authorised referring the matter to the Council’s Legal Officer to commence prosecution proceedings for non-compliance with the requirements of the Notice.

(Members resolved to exclude the public for this item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972)