Building development plans

HDC have dropped plans for a major new development of 3,750 houses at RAF Wyton. The prime reason, money is not available in the short term to develop the required transport infrastructure.

Developers have identified alternative greenfield sites much nearer to St Ives. These are Gifford Farm, highlighted yellow in the above image, and farmland to the north of Marley Road, highlighted blue. The combined housing for these areas is estimated as 2,950. That would introduce an additional 4,000 cars per day onto the roads around St Ives. An additional 5,000 children would need schooling.

An application has already been made for the first 'nibble' of land outlined red in the above image, being farmland to the west of Old Ramsey Road. This proposes no improvements to the transport infrastructure. It is likely further development will be of a similar fashion; little chunks at a time, each one singly not warranting any infrastructure improvements. UPDATE FEBRUARY 2020 : The planning permission for this development went all the way to appeal and was refused. To read the decision, click here.

There is a great risk St Ives will find itself saddled with almost 3,000 extra homes without changes of any kind to infrastructure. No road improvements, no extra schools, no doctors’ surgeries. None of the infrastructure considered for an RAF Wyton development.

What can we do about this? There is strength in numbers. Sign the petition to support the view shown below. You can do so anonymously and also add a comment to voice your personal view. Currently there are almost 500 signatures. Every single planning application for the land will objected to, citing the strength of feeling indicated by the petition numbers and the comments made. And the St Ives Matters Facebook page will flag up every application with a link to enable you to object directly. Make sure you're a Facebook friend to get automatic notifications.

By signing the petition you express support for the following view.

1. That major new housing in the St Ives area should be a managed development of the RAF Wyton site, including transport and other required infrastructure.
2. That any proposed developments at Gifford Farm and to the north of Marley Road should not be approved.

To read more articles from St Ives Matters, click here.