Content

By 7 votes in favour (Councillors Anna
Bradnam, Peter Fane, Corinne Garvie, Lisa Redrup, James Rixon,
Heather Williams, Eileen Wilson), to 2 votes against (Councillors
Ariel Cahn and Peter Sandford ) and 1 abstention (Councillor Tumi
Hawkins), the Committee refused the application for the reasons set
out below, with delegated authority to officers to make minor
amendments to the reasons:

·        
The proposal forms residential development outside of a
development
framework boundary
that does not fall within any of the exceptions cited by Policy
S/7, nor would the development be supported in principle by other
policies in the Local Plan. The development would therefore result
in encroachment into the open countryside and a form of
unsustainable development that is not compatible with its
location.

·        
The fact that the proposed dwellings would be self-build dwellings
would not be of sufficient benefit of itself in helping to meet
identified need for self and custom build properties to override
the presumption against the principle of residential development on
the site or to warrant a decision other than in accordance with the
adopted development plan policies. The proposal is therefore
contrary to Policies S/2, S/3, S/6, S/7, S/10 and TI/2 of the South
Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 that seek to prioritise the
development of new homes as part of a spatial and sustainable
development strategy that protects the countryside from
encroachment and to help guard against incremental growth in
unsustainable locations.

·        
The proposed development would result in encroachment of built form
into the open countryside, infilling a visual gap, which would be
harmful to the character of the countryside and the rural
transition from the village. The proposal would therefore result in
significant harm to the existing character of the open rural
landscape, village development character and village edge and would
conflict with Policies S/7, HQ/1 and NH/2 of the South
Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018.

·        
The proposed development would result in the irreversible loss of
Grade 2 agricultural land which is considered
to be best most versatile land. The land is not allocated
for development within the Local Plan and the need for self-build
does not override the need to protect the agricultural value of the
land. Subsequently the proposal would be contrary to Policy NH/3 of
the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018.