Plans to build 14 flats and a shop in a Cambridgeshire suburb have raised nearly 30 objections from nearby residents. Plans submitted by Jafbuild Limited to Peterborough City Council propose to build the mixed use development on land at Aqua Drive in Hampton Water, Peterborough.
All 14 flats would be two bedrooms, with 28 car park spaces, 14 cycle spaces for the flats, and 10 cycle spaces for the shop also planned. The applicants say the works are “essential to introduce a mixed used development in line with the Hampton Water masterplan providing a much needed local convenience store and flats”.
However, the plans have had 29 objections from nearby residents. These include concerns about whether there is a need for another shop, as well as increased traffic in the area.
One resident, who lives around five minutes away from the land in Broadstone Drive, said they could not understand the need for another shop. They said: “I struggle to understand why yet more flats and shops are required in an already saturated area. We have at least 15 shops within a 1.5m walk and it is well known that these will only attract trouble to the area.”
A nearby neighbour also said that there was “no need for additional shops”. They added: “Residents already have easy access to retail facilities within walking distance, and further development of shops is unnecessary and redundant.”
Other responses said they were concerned about potential traffic. One resident in Chelburn Grove said that Aqua Drive is “already congested during the day time”.
They added: “The road would need widening in places to cope. In addition you need to open up more entry and exit roads. The area cannot cope with the current volume of traffic.”
Another person in Lockwood Way said that traffic is “ridiculous” during peak times currently, and that this development would “inevitably make it worse”.
Another resident said that the development would not fit in with the appearance of Hampton Water. They commented: “Along with not fitting in with the aesthetic of a ‘country park’ (lakes, ponds and woods) which residents were told when buying properties in the area. Completely object to this and will reduce the house prices of all properties nearby.”
Despite the concerns, a transport statement, conducted by Parson Engineers, says that the development is “not anticipated to negatively impact the safety of pedestrians”. Parsons predicted that the development would generate a two-way peak hour flow of 146 vehicles in the morning and 155 in the evening. Overall, they found this would not have a “severe residual impact” on residents and transport in the area.
The flats have been designed so that they will provide residents with “excellent views”, according to the planning application, as well as with an open plan and “spacious” design. The ground floor flats have also been designed with “adaptability in mind”, so they would be designed as “accessible and adaptable homes”,
The development is also opposite St John Henry Newman VA Primary School. The applicants state that the proposals are “entirely appropriate” and “complimentary” to the school.
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