Residents' joy after David Wilson Homes and Barratt Homes lose appeal to build 160 houses in Burwell

Plans to build 160 homes in Burwell have been thrown out by a planning inspector who said the development would harm the village’s character.

Developers David Wilson Homes and Barratt Homes had appealed against East Cambridgeshire District Council’s refusal to allow them to build 70 houses in Ness Road and 90 in Toyse Lane.

A planning inquiry was held in January when government inspector Deborah Board heard a number of Burwell residents speak out against the proposal.

FloraMay Waterhouse, who lives in neighbouring Chestnut Rise and two years ago started a petition against the development, said she was ‘delighted’ at the decision.

“I’m totally relieved beyond measure,” she said. “My neighbours and I have been worried about it because we hadn’t heard a decision on it for so long. I actually thought she was going to allow it so I am surprised but absolutely delighted.”

Representing the developers at the inquiry, solicitor Paul Tucker had argued that a tree boundary around the site would enhance the character of the area, but it was ruled it would not and would created an ‘artificial edge’.

“Even with the best efforts of the design team, I consider that ultimately it would appear false and therefore at odds with the landscape character,” said the inspector.

Residents also argued the development would create more traffic and ‘clog-up’ the village – but Ms Board said the impact the additional traffic would have had been correctly assessed and the proposed upgrades would have mitigated the impact.