A Government inspector refused to allow a six-bedroomed, three storey house to be built at Wimblington after disputing how close it would be to the centre of the village.

Steve Williamson upheld the refusal of Fenland Council to give permission for the house after questioning whether it was in a sustainable location.

“I do not agree that the appeal site is within a three minute easy walking distance from Wimblington and its services, facilities and transport links,” he said.

The appeal site is south of 32 Eastwood End which Mr Williamson described as being “at the eastern fringe and part of an outlying group of houses that is located well beyond the built up area of Wimblington. It is across the busy A141 road and with areas of agricultural land between.”

When he visited he noticed the lack of a footpath to the A141 “and it is therefore clear to me that the remoteness of the appeal site from Wimblington would be a strong disincentive to occupiers of the proposed dwelling using non-car means of transport to access services”.

The application by William King was refused by Fenland Council last November and followed a previous refusal.

Mr Williamson agreed the buildings on the site are “somewhat dilapidated and the proposed house would offer some design quality. However as the proposed house would not be of significant merit and as the current appearance of the site is not such that it has a significant effect on the character and appearance of the area, I find that these matters do not outweigh the harm identified.”

He did not regard a house there “as the best use of the land”.

Mr King said his family had owned the land since 1962 and he lived there with his parents for many years in a mobile home.

The proposal would have allowed him to return to his home village where many family members live “and enhance community cohesion”.