Latest news with #FenlandDistrictCouncil
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Check out the latest planning applications for Fenland
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Fenland District Council, featuring proposals for new broadband infrastructure, residential extensions, and changes of use across the district. Among the applications are plans for new wooden broadband poles in Wisbech, a 22.5-metre monopole at a sports centre, and the conversion of office space into flats in March. Below is a listed overview of all the applications submitted to Fenland District Council this week: BT Pole WJ V22071 Bath Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. Notice of intention to install two new 10-metre medium wooden poles for fixed line broadband apparatus. Ref. No: F/YR25/0487/PANR Parkfield Sports Centre, Chapel Lane, Wimblington, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 0QX. Install replacement electronic communications apparatus including a new 22.5m monopole and headframe with six antennas and ancillary equipment. Ref. No: F/YR25/0482/PANR 12 Bridge Lane, Wimblington, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 0RS. Erect a part two-storey, part single-storey rear extension, alter existing dwelling, raise and replace roof of rear extension, and remove chimney. Ref. No: F/YR25/0493/F BT Pole WJ V9356 Edinburgh Drive, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. Notice of intention to install three new 10-metre medium wooden poles for fixed line broadband apparatus. Ref. No: F/YR25/0481/PANR BT Pole WJ V22246 Southwell Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. Notice of intention to install one new 10-metre medium wooden pole for fixed line broadband apparatus. Ref. No: F/YR25/0480/PANR Cobra Engineering, Redmoor Lane, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE14 0RN. Siting of a Portacabin. Ref. No: F/YR25/0488/F Regent Building, 6 - 8 Dartford Road, March, Cambridgeshire. Change of use from first floor offices to five flats under Part 3, Class MA. Ref. No: F/YR25/0494/PNC01 Land North East Of 351 Drybread Road, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Variation of condition 10 to allow a mobile modular facilities building, larger caravans, and site layout changes for a caravan site. Ref. No: F/YR25/0492/VOC Land North Of All Best Cuts Limited, Hooks Drove, Murrow, Cambridgeshire. Certificate of lawful use to confirm compliance with commencement of works for two warehouse units. Ref. No: F/YR25/0479/CERTLU 115 Estover Road, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 8SF. Erect a single-storey rear extension and render all external walls, demolishing the existing extension, conservatory, and porch. Ref. No: F/YR25/0486/F Land South East Of Windy Ridge, Garden Lane, Wisbech St Mary, Cambridgeshire. Erect two self-build/custom build dwellings, demolishing the existing barn. Ref. No: F/YR25/0489/F Church Barn House, 13A Church Street, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 9PY. Certificate of lawfulness for proposed installation of solar panels on the rear and side of the dwelling. Ref. No: F/YR25/0490/CERTP Land East Of 1 Wimblington Road, Doddington, Cambridgeshire. Reserved matters application for access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale for three dwellings and new access. Ref. No: F/YR25/0491/RM
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Public asked for views on Cambridgeshire councils shake-up
People are being asked for their views on "the biggest shake-up of local government since the 1970s", as seven councils options have been identified for creating new unitary councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough from April follows a national government requirement to replace the current district, county and city councils with simpler unitary councils.A consultation has begun, including a survey and focus groups, to find out what matters most to local people and where they have the greatest connection. The options include merging councils in a north-west and south-east grouping, a north and south grouping, or an east and west leaders said in a joint statement: "The three options each contain two new unitary councils that would cover the entire Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area and replace all existing local authorities."The statement was issued by the leaders at East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Peterborough City Council. The councils said they wanted to hear about "the connections that people feel they have to different areas", such as where they work, socialise or receive consultation also asks what priorities people expect from the new unitary authorities, and "what is important to them when dealing with local government".It is not just targeted at individual households but also businesses, community groups and town and parish final decisions on which new local government structures are put into place in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will ultimately be made by national government. Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, urged people to have their say."Councils in Cambridgeshire are facing the biggest change to local government in over 50 years," she said."While I very much support the idea of unitary councils, where residents can access all services from one council instead of two, I do not support the government's move to larger, more remote structures"We must make sure we do not take the 'local' out of local government."I would therefore urge all our residents, community groups, businesses, and everybody we work with, and for, to share their views and help us shape what the future looks like for our district." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Council rejects 'incomplete' plans for 352 new homes in Wisbech
A developer has been told it cannot build 352 new homes after councillors said its plans were "incomplete". Planning officers at Fenland District Council recommended to approve the proposal from Seagate Homes for land in Wisbech, would have seen the new homes built on land off Halfpenny Lane. About 49 of the properties were proposed as affordable housing.A vote on Wednesday at the authority's planning committee agreed unanimously to refuse the application. The developer can appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate. During the meeting, Lee Russell, the technical director at Seagate Homes, said it had taken a "significant number of years and committed effort" to bring the plans forward. He said the development would offer a "wide range of housing" and would deliver a large area of open space for people to use. Mr Russell also said a "considerable amount of time" had been spent to reach an agreement with the Cambridgeshire County Council highways team about proposed off-site road improvements, including new crossing points and bus stops. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said officers recognised that the financial contribution of £2,000 per plot was not enough to cover the needs created by the development. The report said: "It is acknowledged that the proposed financial contributions fall significantly short of the requested education and healthcare contributions, which would result in the proposed development creating an additional burden on existing infrastructure." Councillors shared concerns including additional traffic, the viability of the development by plans to build a new incinerator in the town and ongoing maintenance of on-site water level and flood risk management systems. Charlie Marks, a Conservative councillor at Fenland District Council, said he had "severe reservations" and more questions needed to be asked. "I actually think it is an incomplete application, because we have not got all the information in front of us." However, Ian Benney, a Conservative councillor at the authority, welcomed the application and believed the site was the right place for development. "Wisbech needs to take its share of the housing market in Fenland," he said. Although he believed the application was "incomplete", he said without it, it could "rob a generation of a chance at homeownership". Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Drastic' action needed to save Cambridgeshire £1 Tiger bus pass
A mayor who pledged to retain a discounted bus scheme warned it was in danger of being lost unless "something drastic" was Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority's (CPCA) Tiger bus pass allows people under 25 to travel for £1 and has been used on more than a million was introduced by former Labour mayor Nik Johnson, with his Conservative successor Paul Bristow promising it would stay in a BBC interview last month.A recommendation on how to continue funding it beyond the end of the year was not agreed by the CPCA board and will be discussed again at a transport meeting on 25 June. Chris Boden, leader of the Conservative-led Fenland District Council, had argued the council should not continue its local bus fare cap beyond December, when it is currently due to end, and instead fund the Tiger the Tiger pass once the national £3 bus fare cap had also ceased in December could mean the CPCA would have to reimburse bus operators to the tune of £473,000 a month, and £6.2m a year, a report to the board stated."If we don't take some quite drastic action, which involves a large amount of money being shifted around in the budget, then the Tiger pass will stop," he argued the Tiger pass must be continued to build up passenger numbers but would otherwise run out of funding in the measure could run until March, he said, when a new budget and proposal would be put forward. "We have an opportunity here with £1.8m in the budget for the fare cap coming on December 31," he said."If that money were utilised towards the continuation of the existing Tiger pass to March 31, that would be a very significant part of the funding needed for that."Speaking in support of the proposal, Bristow said: "We are in danger of losing the Tiger pass if we don't do something drastic."What people want is continuity and security."Lucy Nethsingha, leader of the Liberal Democrat-controlled Cambridgeshire County Council, said she thought the Tiger pass was a "priority" but would rather everyone had the correct figures before making a Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council - led by the Tories - supported the recommendation and said the bus fare cap was the "wrong choice" when the Tiger pass was City Labour councillor Anna Smith, who was deputy mayor when the Tiger pass was introduced, suggested looking beyond the transport budget to find money for the bus Tiger bus pass and bus fare cap are due to be discussed at a transport meeting on 25 June before being brought back to the board in July. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New houses planned to keep homeless out of hotels
New housing could be built on council-owned land in a bid to reduce costs incurred by housing homeless people in hotels. Fenland District Council said at any one time it was paying for about 30 households to stay in hotels, because there was nowhere else for them to go. It has now put forward plans for 12 homes to be built on land it owns in Grounds Avenue in March, Cambridgeshire. The council said it hoped the project would ultimately help save the council about £188,000 a year. It said there were currently not many options for families facing homelessness in the area it covers. At a meeting on Monday, the council's cabinet agreed to move forward with plans to redevelop the plot of land in Grounds Avenue. This would involve commissioning a company to develop the land, and agreeing to lease the land for 125 years to a registered housing provider, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Sam Hoy, the council's portfolio holder for housing, said: "This proposal is another example of the council taking proactive action to reduce the number of homeless households who live in hotels and in doing so reduce revenue costs on the council's statutory responsibilities to address homelessness." She said hotel accommodation was "not housing benefit compliant and this places significant additional pressure on our finances, but also is not a good option for the households we are helping". The council hopes the new homes will be built by October 2026. Ms Hoy added there was a risk cost to the council of about £92,000, which she said was the planning cost that would be refunded if approval for the project was granted. She added: "It is a good deal for the council and it significantly reduces reliance on expensive temporary accommodation that is not subsidy compliant." Addressing a concern that the homes might be used for asylum seeker accommodation, Ms Hoy said it would be for "local housing need". Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Fenland District Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
