Speculative builds back in East Cambridgeshire after planning appeal loss

Areas once thought safe from development could be built on after a district council was told it has not identified enough sites.

East Cambridgeshire District Council was told by the Planning Inspectorate on Friday it had not identified locations for the required 5,881 dwellings to be built over the next five years, and could only show 3.86 years’ supply.

The ruling means sites rejected on the same grounds could be approved and has opened the door to speculative development around the district.

The decision comes after an appeal from Gladman Developments. Last year ECDC refused an outline application to build 100 homes in Mildenhall Road, Fordham, but the ruling means development can now move forwards.

Cllr Coralie Green, service delivery champion for strategic planning, said the decision was disappointing, adding: “We are reliant on developers and landowners progressing with their applications following planning approval.

"Odd as it may seem, if developers are slow to build on permitted and allocated sites across the district, communities are vulnerable to speculative development on unallocated sites.”