A PLAN to build 18 houses on Whittlesey Road, March, has been rejected.

Greene King’s application to build on the site where the Horse and Jockey pub once stood was turned down by Fenland District Council because of concerns about the safety of pedestrians travelling from the houses to March town centre on the A141.

The site was also considered a flood risk and it was said the development would have been out of character with the rest of the houses along the road.

The planning report said: “The proposal has failed to demonstrate that an acceptable safe means of pedestrians crossing the A141 can be provided which renders the site unsustainable.

“The development would begin to change the fairly open nature of the countryside in the immediate vicinity and would cause harm to the distinctive character of the locality resulting in an estate type development which would be out of character with the rest of Whittlesey Road.

“There is other land available within the district in a lower flood zone that should be developed before this site is considered.”

The pub was closed in 1985 and demolished 10 years later.

An application to build 21 houses on the site was withdrawn in August last year because of concerns about the houses.

Greene King said the Horse and Jockey site is one previously identified as suitable for housing and unless the application is agreed “without delay” the council could fail to meet current and future housing needs.