Hundreds of homes approved for Fenland town

The homes on the edge of Littleport are part of a phased development, including affordable housing

A council has signed off on a new housing development on the edge of a Fenland town.

More than 280 new homes will be built off Grange Lane in Littleport after detailed plans were approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Developer Grange Lane LLP said the homes would be a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, and two, three, and four-bedroom houses, with 64 affordable homes proposed.

The council said the plans would make "a significant contribution to the district's housing supply and affordable housing delivery".

The proposed 286 homes will make up the northern phase of a wider development on the edge of the town, with construction work already under way on the southern phase of 360 homes.

Construction work is already under way to build hundreds of new homes off Grange Road in Littleport

The developer also said 34 self-build plots would be provided in the development, as well as public open spaces and play areas, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The plans were approved by the district council after planning officers said the development would offer a range of benefits, including for people already living in Littleport.

The officer's report said: "The proposed development would bring about social, economic and environmental benefits through the delivery of an allocated site, making a significant contribution to the district's housing supply and affordable housing delivery.

"The economic and environmental benefits flowing from the scheme, including the provision of local retail/business facilities, active travel routes and public open space, will also mitigate for the scheme's impacts as well as providing wider benefits for residents within Littleport itself.

"Whilst there are some weaknesses in the proposals, these shortfalls are not considered to warrant a refusal either in isolation or when considered cumulatively and would be outweighed by the social, economic and environmental benefits arising from the delivery of the allocation and extant consent."