Budget homes cut in village development

It was originally thought that 40 per cent of the homes on the Green End Industrial Estate site would be affordable but this figure has now been reduced to 30 per cent to ensure that the proposal is financially viable.

The plan for the 126 homes and business space was outlined at the Gamlingay Parish Council meeting on Tuesday (December 13) by Jonathan Dixon from RPS planning consultancy. He said: “If we provided 40 per cent affordable housing the site would be worth less than it is now.

“There will be 126 homes and 126 jobs; one home one job.

“There will be a potential share of New Homes Bonus of up to £630,000. At the moment contributions go to the district council and then it’s for the parish council to talk to the district council about how the parish might secure some of these contributions.”

This is a government scheme whereby there is a bonus given for new homes within a district.

But Sebastian Kindersley, South Cambs DC councillor for Gamlingay, pointed out that there is no obligation for the district council “to hand over a single penny” adding “that £630,000 might actually be nought.”

He also highlighted that the affordable homes would not automatically go to people with a connection to Gamlingay.