Extension of Cambridgeshire market town approved

Up to 1,200 new homes have been approved on fields to the west of March

A market town in Cambridgeshire will be extended after the approval of more than 1,000 new homes.

Up to 1,200 properties could be built on fields on the western edge of March, accompanied by allotments, open public space and a new primary school.

Persimmon Homes has earmarked land for the school in its plans, although it would be designed and delivered separately.

Fenland District Council approved the scheme four years after it was proposed, marking the first step towards developers' ambitions to create a new 2,000-home settlement.

The first lot would be built to the east of the A141 Isle of Ely Way and north of Knight's End Road.

Properties to the east of the development would have views of St Wendreda's Church.

Work is due to take place between 2026 and 2038.

A second primary school could also serve the development, if the need arose.

Planning documents suggested the first would have capacity for 420 pupils – with the ability to expand to 630 – while a second "might be required in the wider allocation".

The first would be funded in part by developers, who have pledged £2,000 towards local infrastructure for each home, equivalent to £2.4m.

Developers would also provide 240 affordable homes, in line with Fenland District Council's requirements.

Councillors raised concerns about Persimmon's delivery at a meeting, as developers planned to buy and build on each section of land in phases – the first of which would not contain affordable homes.

Persimmon said it had a contractual position on the whole site.

Councillors also added a condition that a new roundabout must be built on the A141 before any homes were built, to avoid Knight's End Road becoming the principle point of access.