Plans for a new complex of up to 200 homes with communal and care facilities have been proposed for Green Belt land in Comberton, Cambridgeshire.

The retirement village will feature retirement homes, a clubhouse and other infrastructure on land at Branch Road in the north of the village for people aged 65 and over.

Outline planning permission has also been submitted for up to 144 extra care units at the same site at the edge of the village.

All applications have been put forward by Olde Farm LLP, Endurance Estates Ltd and Senior.

According to the developers, the proposed development will provide “a range of accommodation types” with amenity space, communal gardens, and leisure facilities, including a pool, gym, fitness studio and treatment rooms, and an area with a café, restaurant, bar, hairdressers, meeting rooms and activity space.

The proposed development site comprises of agricultural land which is used mostly for arable purposes.

The western boundary of the site is currently newly planted woodland, and there is some residential development beyond.

Despite the development being in in the Green Belt, the developer argues that the provision of specialist housing for older persons, where a current or emerging development plan does not make adequate provision, does constitute “very special circumstances” and would “outweigh the harm” to the Green Belt.

However, the development has already become contentious, with the housing strategy team questioning the need for retirement homes in Comberton, with the strategy document stating: “The scheme is not specific to the needs of the local village of Comberton but will accommodate those from all over the district and further afield.

“Whilst we accept the need for different forms of older people accommodation, it is unclear as to why the proposed scheme has to be in this location. There does not appear to be any real evidence as to why there are exceptional circumstances to justify such development in the green belt, other than the need for older peoples’ accommodation.”

It is unknown at the time of writing when a decision is expected.

© Eastern Echo (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).

Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.