Council blocks plans for Gypsy and traveller homes

The council has blocked plans for Gypsy and traveller homes on the edge of Cambridge - at the Old Coal Yard, off Fen Road, near the Cambridge North railway station

A council has blocked a man's plans to site Gypsy and traveller caravans on the outskirts of a city.

Nelson O’Connor asked South Cambridgeshire District Council for permission to position 18 homes on the edge of Cambridge.

Council members recognised a need for more homes for Gypsy and traveller families in the Cambridge area.

But they concluded that siting them on land off Chesterton Fen Road would "substantially" encroach into the green belt.

'Very limited'

Mr O’Connor's planning application was partially retrospective because some people had already moved in, councillors heard, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

He argued there was a "shortfall" of places for Gypsy and traveller families and said the planned homes would meet an "urgent" need.

Mr O'Connor recognised that the development constituted “inappropriate development in the green belt” but argued that harm was “very limited”.

Councillors refused the application after studying a report by council planning officers, who said the development would be a "substantial encroachment" into the green belt.

They said it was “clear” there was a need for more homes for Gypsy and traveller families in the area, but that did not outweigh the harm that would be caused to the green belt in this case.