Plans to remove a work-based condition on a four bedroom retirement home next to a garden centre have been dismissed by Fenland Council.

Cambs Times: Oak Garden Centre, London Road, Chatteris New Year Winter Market,Alex Polizzi was there from The Fixer. She has been working there for a while re-jigging the business for a BBC show. Left: David White, Alex Polizzi and Lynn White of the Oak Garden Centre.Oak Garden Centre, London Road, Chatteris New Year Winter Market,Alex Polizzi was there from The Fixer. She has been working there for a while re-jigging the business for a BBC show. Left: David White, Alex Polizzi and Lynn White of the Oak Garden Centre. (Image: Archant)

David White has planning permission to build a retirement home for him and his wife in a field east of 134 London Road but attached to it is a ruling that says the home must be related to the Oaks Garden Centre.

In June the condition removal plan by Mr White was deferred to enable him to “justify the functional and financial needs” of a house on the site.

Mr White said: “Although the house is being built next to the garden centre, it is in no way attached to the business.

“This building is intended to be a retirement home for use.

“I am the freehold owner of the garden centre but not a director or shareholder in Oak Landscapes Ltd.

“Having discussed the situation with two of my neighbours, who have both been granted permission recently and no such condition made, it seems really unfair that this should be applied to our retirement home.

“We are extremely concerned that in the event of our son’s business changing that the Council have the opportunity of exercising control over subsequent use of our new house and request that the condition be removed.”

But despite his pleas planners dismissed the removal of the work-based condition.

A police architectural liaison officer said he was concerned about the need to access the home through the garden centre.

“This clearly creates a relationship between the dwelling and the commercial premises.

“Until such time as these matters are resolved to permit free access to the dwelling then there is a correlation between the dwelling and the adjacent commercial premises that will affect the security of the premises,” the police report said.

Planners refused the removal of the condition saying it would result in a new dwelling in the open countryside without any justification which would be against planning guidelines.