Residents are concerned with potential traffic, flooding and impact on local services.
Locals have said plans for 90 new homes will “destroy” their village – with concerns raised about flooding and impact on services. Allison Homes has proposed to build 90 homes on land next to Main Street, Yaxley.
A children’s play area and community orchard is also proposed. Many long-term Yaxley residents are concerned about the plans.
Belinda Bulpit, who has lived on Main Street her whole life, said the new homes would “destroy the village”, as it is already “overbuilt”. Belinda added: “I was really concerned because we have a lot of problems with drainage.
“We’re at the bottom of the village and the water runs down. We have tanks out here, sometimes for 24 hours, trying to pump the water away.
“The pipes going out are very small and they can’t take on an extra 90 houses.” Belinda also believes the homes will have an effect on already overstretched local services.
The land where the 90 homes could be built(Image: CambridgeshireLive)
She added: “It would cause more traffic. First you’ve got the schools. Then you have doctors who are taking on all the new houses in Haddon.
“There will be more and more people if we get 90 houses over the road. I think we’ve [Yaxley] been overbuilt. I think it’s destroying the village. The infrastructure isn’t there for new houses.”
Belinda is also worried about the loss of green space. She said: “I love my view, that would be really upsetting to lose. I love to sit in my garden and look out. At the end of the day, that’s not what’s considered when new houses go up.”
Stanley Dow, who has lived in Yaxley for more than 80 years, said he “doesn’t like new houses” being built in the village. He said: “There is so much traffic on that road. I just think they are going to build up more traffic. It’s going to be unbelievable. I don’t see the sense in it.”
The pumping station at the junction of Main Street and Windsor Road, Yaxley(Image: CambridgeshireLive)
At the junction of Main Street and Windsor Road, there is a pumping station. Like Belinda, Angela Swiffen believes existing drainage will not cope with new homes. She said: “The pumping station cannot cope now if it rains hard.
“So it is not going to manage another 90 homes. It is constantly being pumped out and we have to put up with tankers all through the day and night. The wildlife will also suffer and habitats for smaller animals will be ruined.”
Sandra Aschettino also shared her concerns for local services. She said: “The schools are full, the doctors and dentists over-subscribed, the village can barely cope with what we have now! Why do we need more houses built on what little green space we have left?”
Tankers at night outside Belinda’s home(Image: Belinda Bulpit)
Claire Gambier has set up a petition against the plans. She said “people should have a chance to use their voice”. Claire added: “The council are supposed to be doing the best for the village and its infrastructure. When residents and people who live here have a strong objection, it should be heard.
“We know it will flood. People are very upset about the infrastructure, such as schools and doctors. I live along Windsor Road, and even if they only build 90 houses, there could be at least 180 cars which will create more traffic. It’s such a bad proposal.”
Allison Homes is currently in its consultation phase with initial plans, and is looking at feedback from the community and statutory authorities before formal plans are submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC).
Georgina McCrae, planning director for Allison Homes said: “The proposals would help to support local housing needs by providing a range of smaller starter homes for people looking to own their first homes, and family homes, with at least 40% being provided as affordable homes.
“The feedback and comments received through the consultation will help us to update and shape our plans before we submit our planning application. As part of this, we are working closely with Anglian Water and the Internal Drainage Board to ensure our plans are appropriate for the site and can be supported by the right drainage infrastructure.”
A planning application has not yet been submitted to HDC. A HDC spokesperson said: “At this stage, no planning application has been submitted for development on land off Main Street, Yaxley.
“If a planning application is received, it would be assessed through the formal planning process, including consideration of matters such as flooding, highways, ecology and local infrastructure. Residents would be able to view any application on the council’s planning portal and submit comments as part of the public consultation.”
