Barratt Homes is looking to build 105 houses in Manea

BDW Trading Ltd (Barratt Homes) has submitted a full application for the houses to be built on land off Westfield Road in Manea.

A design and access statement drawn up in support of the application by V4 Architects explains that the 105 homes will have garages. The application also includes parking, associated accesses, public open space and infrastructure works on the site.

It says 26 of the proposed homes to be built on the 4.3-hectare site will be affordable housing.

A view of the existing houses on Westfield from the proposed site of the 105 homes. (Image: V4 Architects)

The statement explains that Fenland Council provided pre-application advice in April this year, and it was agreed that the principle of residential development on the site was "likely to be acceptable".

However, there were ongoing discussions about site allocations for development taking place internally at the council.

It was also noted during the discussions that while the development was likely to be acceptable in principle, "the quantum of development is likely to be determined by the impact upon the existing settlement and how this can be positively mitigated through an appropriate design and layout".

The pre-application advice listed a number of considerations to be taken into account for the proposed development, including the mix of housing, highways and parking, flooding and drainage, landscape impact, and crime prevention.

The proposed layout of the new development off Westfield Road in Manea. (Image: V4 Architects)

The design and access statement explains that there was a pre-application consultation with local residents and other stakeholders in March at Manea Village Hall.

The statement states: "The consensus was general support for the application with residents keen on a mix of tenure housing to suit the growing community."

However, only 66 people attended, and of those, only 20 gave formal feedback.

Comments were made regarding the scale of the proposed layout, pressures on local infrastructure, including the capacity at the village school, GP surgery, and utilities such as sewage capacity.

An artist impression of the development which includes a children's play area as part of the open spaces planned. (Image: V4 Architects)

There were also concerns about access and the potential displacement of parking for existing homes on Westfield Road.

The design and access statement goes on to talk about the layout of the site, and explains there will be two routes dividing it, one going east, the other going west, and these will be the main internal spine roads for the development.

There will be lanes and spurs off of these routes, and there will be private drives to the homes.

Around the edge of the site, there will be "green corridors" creating ecology zones for the enhancement and protection of wildlife and biodiversity.been

Various views of the site where an application has gone in for 105 houses. (Image: V4 Architects)

The current hedge which fronts the site onto Westfield Road will remain in place with "minor disturbance by the access and visibility splays".

The statement goes on to say the development of homes along the Westfield Road boundary will be built with the houses set back in a similar way to those existing on the opposite side of the road.

The proposed houses will be both detached and semi-detached and will have private drives.

The mix of properties will include seven two-bedroom houses, 45 three-bedroom houses, 22 four-bedroom houses, and five five-bedroom. There will also be 10 one-bedroom affordable apartments, 12-two two-bedroom affordable houses and four affordable three-bedroom homes.

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The statement claims the proposed housing mix creates a "diverse and varied mix to meet the needs of all sectors of the housing market".

It goes on to state: "The appearance of the dwellings proposed is a modern interpretation of traditional scales, proportions, forms and details. The proposal has been made after careful consideration to preserve and enhance the village of Manea.

"All house types are of an appropriate level of design and detail for Manea, and they will be constructed in a high-quality manner using good materials and workmanship."

The affordable homes will be split into 18 for affordable rent and eight for shared ownership.

The statement concludes: "The applicants believe the design of the proposal will improve the built environment through its quality, which respects and enhances the character and appearance of the village of Manea, and by developing this site, it will help the council deliver on its obligations in the Local Plan to provide housing within the district."

The application has already met with opposition from residents with comments that include: ":I say no to building these dwellings, there are too many homes being built, and there is also not enough room in the schools to host more children.

"Doctor surgeries are becoming too full and can't cope with the increase. Then there is the traffic. This village has only a handful of routes in and out of the village!

"Noise pollution will be increased, and the pollution from vehicles plus the road will be too rammed with cars."

Another resident commented: "The facilities of the village are past their limit already. The school has had to be extended, the roads are borderline unusable for anything that doesn't have 3ft of ground clearance, the water pressure is pathetic, and has dropped since the addition of another recent development.

"What is being done to fix these issues, and how can over 100 additional properties be allowed when these issues are not being addressed first?"

Full details of the application can be found on the Fenland Council's planning portal using the planning reference number: F/YR25/0909/F.