A COUPLE has been told they can not build 10 homes on farmland next to Manea Rail Station.

Mark and Fiona Wales, of Station Road, Manea, were refused permission for the project, which included the building of a pond and car parking spaces, by Fenland District Council.

They claimed the development would help reduce the housing shortfall and would be in character with the area.

But the proposal was opposed by several residents and officers said there were better sites which could be developed in the village.

The application statement said: “A shortage in housing has been identified and this development has been carefully chosen and planned to address this shortfall.

“The scheme will provide family homes for local people.

“The layout of the proposed site has been carefully considered to ensure that minimum impact is made to surrounding buildings and the character of the area.”

A letter of objection raised concerns about the development since the site is only 30 metres from the railway barrier crossing and lies in a flood zone.

Another letter pointed out that planning permission had been refused for homes on the site in 2002 and 2003 and that wildlife may be harmed by the development.

The officers report concluded: “The applicant has failed to demonstrate that the application site should be developed prior to more preferable sites that can be identified within the district.”