Council Approves Residential Development Above Histon Library and Shops

A council has granted approval for a proposal to construct 15 new residential units above a library and retail establishments in Histon. Camel Projects (Histon Ltd), the developer, sought to erect these one and two-bedroom flats on School Hill, Histon, Cambridgeshire, stating the development would “help bring vitality to the village”. The proposal faced over 50 objections, with concerns primarily focused on exacerbating existing parking problems within the town. Nevertheless, South Cambridgeshire District Council proceeded to approve the application during a council meeting held on Monday, citing a demand for housing in the locality. An objection was also lodged by the district council’s conservation officer, who contended that the development’s scale would negatively impact the conservation area and adjacent heritage assets, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Justin Bainton, speaking on behalf of the developer, stated that a redesigned car park, included in the plans, would “reduce pressure in the street car parking”. He further highlighted that six of the proposed flats were designated as affordable housing, and the initiative aimed to offer residences for “the younger generation”. Bainton additionally described the site as “highly sustainable” and asserted that the planned construction would “enhance the virtual quality of the street scene to the benefit of the conservation area”. During the meeting, Dr. Tumi Hawkins, the council’s Liberal Democrat cabinet member for planning, acknowledged the concerns articulated by residents of the village. Nevertheless, she emphasized that any decision must weigh the benefits against the disadvantages, concluding that, in her assessment, the advantages surpassed the drawbacks. She articulated: “Those coming in behind us need and want somewhere to live, families are growing, I have got two kids and I want them to be able to find somewhere to live.” She added, “It is a good thing to be able to do this and provide something like this in a sustainable location, which is what this is.” The councillors’ vote resulted in unanimous approval of the application.