Object

Local Plan 2040 Draft Plan - Strategy options and draft policies consultation

Representation ID: 5521

Received: 06/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Clare Szczepanski

Representation Summary:

Our client controls the Land at South West Duloe, which is being promoted through the Call For Sites Process, Site ID 3420. This site is available for up to 84 dwellings; however, the site is being promoted with the notion of delivering up to 25 dwellings on the northern part of the field adjacent to the settlement, with the remainder possibly available to meet other objectives such as open space provision. The concept would be to deliver a proportionate development in scale with the existing size of the village and to meet identified housing need.

Duloe is a small, rural hamlet with limited housing stock. Although there are limited services in the village St Neots hosts a range of services, including restaurants, supermarkets, pubs, schools, and doctors’ surgeries, all of which are accessible at a longer walk/short cycle.

Our client understands the need for both affordable and market housing in the borough, and as such is willing to deliver between 10 and 25 houses in order to meet the Parish’s housing need. Developing between 10 and 25 houses on minimum of 0.5 ha up to 1 ha, means that the site is deliverable in the short term, and therefore can make an early contribution to housing delivery in the borough.

It is well recognised that villages and rural settlements such as this make for attractive locations for self-build plots. Table 12 of the Housing Strategy 2021-2026 shows that there are currently 45 registrants who have registered a preference for Self-Build housing in Staploe (which includes Duloe) and the surrounding areas. This site is also being promoted for self-build through the Call for Sites process and provides an opportunity to provide self-build plots in a location where they are required.