March new homes at Barkers Lane planning application meeting

Fenland District Council is recommending approval for the development to the south of Barkers Lane, however objectors say this would require removing protected trees, some hundreds of years old.

The plans, which have been submitted by March East Developments Ltd, include two-bed bungalows and houses, three-bed bungalows and houses, four-bed houses, and two-bed flats. 

The outline application also includes improving access to the existing junction with Wimblington Road.

However, nearly 20 local residents have lodged objections including concerns around flooding, highway safety, additional traffic and overdevelopment in the town.

Resident Zoe Wakelen says the new homes are "neither necessary nor practical.

"These trees, legally protected with TPOs, form an essential part of our community, offering beauty, heritage, and a vital green space for residents and wildlife alike," she added. 

"The proposed access route would forever alter the peaceful, natural character of Barkers Lane, impacting local families, children who walk to Neale-Wade Academy, and everyone who treasures this quiet corner of March."

She also suggested that "an alternative access route through Lambs Drove would allow development without sacrificing this historic lane and its protected trees. 

"We are urging the community and local authorities to reconsider this decision before it’s too late."

"Our infrastructure is already at breaking point, and the prospect of additional traffic on Barkers Lane is alarming.

"Even if the lane is widened, it will not be adequate to handle the increased flow of vehicles, and the current plans fail to address critical issues related to flooding and sewage management. 

"Despite our strong and fact-based objections, it feels as though our concerns are falling on deaf ears.

"We recognise the need for new housing, but we believe many other sites in the area are better suited for development without compromising our community’s heritage and quality of life."

A design and access statement from the applicants however said: "This application proposes a well-designed high quality residential development in a sustainable location adjacent the March settlement boundary.

"Its proposals are consistent with the Government’s drive through the Framework towards significantly increasing the housing supply.

"March, as one of the largest settlements in the Fenland district, is identified as a major town in Fenland’s spatial strategy and settlement hierarchy where new housing development, education facilities and employment provision and other uses may be most appropriately located.

"Not only is the application site off Barkers Lane right in principle, the scale, character and local distinctiveness of the development proposed and detailed within this and a subsequent reserve matters application will make a significant contribution to a range of identified needs."

READ MORE: New homes approved in March in 2023

A Fenland District Council planning officers' report stated that the development would "contribute to the creation of a mixed community" and "promote a healthy, active lifestyle through green space and recreational facilities" as well as "maximise opportunities for use of public transport, walking and cycling".

Mrs Wakelen added that the proposal follows a recently-approved development of 400 homes in the nearby area which, she suggests, "takes away natural beauty from residents.

"Residents are becoming increasingly frustrated and disillusioned as March transforms from a thriving town into a commuter hub.

Many are considering moving away, and we fear that the unique character of our community is at risk."

She added that residents in the street are urging the local council and developers to "reconsider their approach and engage with the community more effectively. 

"We must protect our town and the spaces that mean so much to us all."

A decision on the application is to be made at a Fenland District Council planning meeting today (Wednesday October 30).