THE Secretary of State is set to decide if eight homes can be built in March after a complaint was made about the planned closure of a footpath.

Fenland District Council’s planning chiefs approved permission for six houses and two one-bedroom apartments to be built on The Causeway, fronting Gas Road, in 2009.

However, after an objection was made regarding the ‘stopping up’ of the public walkway between The Causeway and Gas Road, the matter has been taken out of the council’s hands.

“At the time of writing one objection has been received on the grounds that the alternative highway is neither a footpath or an alternative,” says a report to next Wednesday’s planning committee.

“One further representation has been received from the definite map officer at the county council (Paul Mumford) noting that they have no objection to the stopping up.

“Having received an objection the council must now submit the order to the Secretary of State for determination.”

A ‘replacement’ footpath, around the outside of the new development on 43-47 The Causeway, was approved by planners.

They said keeping the original one was likely to increase “the potential for antisocial behaviour” and would “compromise the overall design and layout” of the project.

Four three-bedroom terraced houses, two three-bedroom semi-detached houses and two apartments will be built on the site once plans have been given the green light.

Additional parking spaces and bin stores - surrounded by a 1.3m high wall and railings - will make up the rest of the development once the existing workshop is demolished.