Carter Jonas has secured planning permission for 680 homes, a new neighbourhood centre and extensive public open space in Littleport, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, on behalf of Manor Oak Homes.

Carter Jonas was appointed to the project in early 2016. The land, which is east of the A10, was originally allocated for 300 dwellings in the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan. Following early engagement with the local planning authority, Carter Jonas’ Planning & Development team secured a commitment from East Cambridgeshire District Council to explore the potential for bringing forward the unallocated element of the site. This resulted in an agreement to work up proposals for an additional 380 dwellings with the total site extending to 70 acres. 

As part of this process, Carter Jonas co-ordinated extensive environmental and technical assessments which informed detailed pre-application engagement with the local community and various stakeholders, through which support for the scheme was secured.

Richard Sykes-Popham, Associate Partner, Carter Jonas said: “With property prices in Cambridge increasing, for many Littleport is an ever more attractive place to live for those working in the city. It offers the same excellent rail link with the city that Ely benefits from but offers purchasers more for their money. We’ve been working with the Manor Oak Homes team from their first involvement with the site and we’re extremely pleased that our proactive and engaging approach has succeeded in unlocking the potential of the allocated site and the additional land, resulting in planning permission for more than double the number of homes that were originally anticipated. This is great news for the local community and the wider district where there is an identified shortage of affordable and market housing.

“We will continue to work with Manor Oak Homes on the preparation of a design code, to establish the character and quality of this new neighbourhood which will provide an enduring and positive legacy for Littleport.” 

The approved scheme incorporates affordable housing, which was secured at 20 per cent of the total number of dwellings, retirement homes, lifetime homes at five per cent and self-build homes at five per cent. Also, all five-bedroom properties on the site will be adaptable to provide annexe accommodation or live-work space if required.

The neighbourhood centre will deliver a flexible indoor community space with a sprung floor for indoor sports and three local retail or service units. In addition, extensive areas of informal and formal public open space and outdoor play provision mean that the scheme makes a significant contribution to the enhancement and expansion of Littleport’s green infrastructure, biodiversity and public rights of way network. This is a key community and development plan objective.