Retirement Village Update

Bottisham

20/03/2024

UPDATE - RETIREMENT VILLAGE
First off, a big thank you to all of those who have worked tirelessly on petitions and letters relating to the retirement village planning approval. A constructive meeting, on Tuesday 19th March, was had with the Director of Operations, Isabel Edgar, at East Cambs District Council (ECDC) and District Councillor Charlotte Cane. Isabel had a good understanding of the case and just as importantly our concerns. Letters and all the petitions (at the time 700 which is around 30% of our village!) were handed in along with supporting documents. All were available to ECDC legal team (Kings Counsel) to review and consider, along with the detailed Planning Inspectorates' decision. The objective here were to ascertain grounds for Judicial Review (JR)

Unfortunately, on 20th March, ECDC notified Parish Council that there is no legal position for a JR. We understand that the village as a whole will feel disappointed at this result. In relation to further political intervention, as you know many letters, have also been written to Lucy Frazer MP and Rt. Hon. Michael Gove and will wait to see if any response can be obtained. Lucy Frazer has also written to Lee Rowley MP and will continue to chase. But we must be realistic that there is a very slim chance of this application being overturned by Government. Unlike the applicant, we really do not have the option of appealing to the Secretary of State (and the Planning Inspectorate) for a change of decision.  

We have done our very best and we are grateful to all of those involved helping push this as far as we could. We will, of course, keep you updated if and when we hear anything further. Any changes wanted to the approved planning application, for example changing the number of affordable houses, will need to come both via ECDC and Parish Council. All parties will focus on ensuring material considerations laid out are met.

Thank you again for all residents’ hard work and we are just as disappointed as you are but hope you feel Parish Council have done all we could.

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News Item 16th March 2023

Here is the dedicated online petition - Retirement Village Change.Org Petition

This form is for designated "door knockers" to download only. Selected resident door knockers will be visiting homes around Bottisham village this over the next couple of days (15th March - 18th March inclusive) to seek your support to oppose the recently approved Retirement Village planning application. These residents have volunteered to help the community and Bottisham Parish Council. They will kindly and respectfully ask for your support but you are under no obligation to support this petition. If you have any concerns or questions over this petition please email: clerk@bottisham-pc.gov.uk

Please can all petitions be left in the designated box in the Co-Op by 10am on Monday 18th March 2024.

There will also be an online petition on Change.org for those who wish to submit electronically. The link will be available on Bottisham Community Facebook page.

After being refused by East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC), Planning Inspector (PI) and Secretary of State permission has now been granted by a different / second Planning Inspector to build a retirement village of 170 homes with associated C3 homes on green belt land in Bottisham this includes up to 50 affordable homes. This is due to be located on the land behind Beechwood Avenue (backing onto Cedar Walk, The Rowans with entrance off High Street. This will have a huge and we believe detrimental impact on the village; green belt land & countryside, doctors (capacity), facilities and traffic.

Bottisham Parish Council, ECDC and many residents are extremely disappointed at the outcome of the Appeal decision to allow the Retirement Village in Bottisham and remains vehemently opposed to the proposal. This petition will go to East Cambridgeshire District Council and the Secretary of State, Rt Hon, Michael Gove for Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Lee Rowley, Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety.

NB: If you scan the QR code below you will have to zoom your screen out to image it. This will take you to the dedicated online petition - Retirement Village Change.Org Petition

Additional Documents


Bottisham_Retirement_Village_Petition_Template.docx