Decision

By unanimous vote in favour of the officer recommendation of refusal, the Committee refused the application for the following reasons:

i.               The proposed development is located on undeveloped agricultural land outside the development framework of Linton and would introduce residential development into the open countryside in a location that is not justified by its nature or function.

The proposal would extend development beyond the development framework of the village in a manner that conflicts with the established spatial approach to growth, which seeks to concentrate development within existing settlements. In the absence of a clear and convincing justification, the development would represent unjustified encroachment into the countryside and undermine the plan-led distribution of development. Accordingly, the proposal is contrary to Policy S/2, S/3, S/6, S/7 and S/9 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018.

ii.              The proposed development, by virtue of its scale and siting, would result in a harmful urbanising influence on a currently open and rural landscape. The site contributes to the character of the wider area through its openness, field pattern and visual relationship with the surrounding valley landscape.

The introduction of built form and associated infrastructure would erode the rural setting of Linton and diminish the transition between the village and countryside. The development would be clearly visible from surrounding public viewpoints, including elevated positions and local rights of way, leading to adverse effects on visual amenity.

As a result, the proposal would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the landscape. Accordingly, the proposal is contrary to Policies HQ/1 and NH/2 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

iii.             The proposed development would result in the permanent loss of approximately 6.76 hectares of agricultural land likely to be best and most versatile. This represents a finite and valuable resource.

In the absence of evidence to demonstrate otherwise, the proposal would lead to the unjustified loss of higher quality agricultural land, and no clear justification has been provided to outweigh this harm arising from the loss of this resource. Accordingly, the proposal is contrary to Policy NH/3 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018.

iv.            The proposed development fails to make adequate provision, through a planning obligation or otherwise, for the infrastructure required to mitigate the impacts arising from the development. In particular, no satisfactory mechanism has been secured to deliver or contribute towards Outdoor Sport and Sports Facilities. In the absence of such provision, the development would place additional pressure on existing infrastructure serving Linton, resulting in an unacceptable deterioration in the quality and capacity of these facilities.

Furthermore, it has not been demonstrated that the development would meet the statutory tests for planning obligations, in that the necessary infrastructure has neither been secured nor shown to be deliverable in a manner which is necessary, directly related to the development, and fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind.

The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy TI/8 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2018), the Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations SPD (2026), and the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), which require that development is supported by adequate infrastructure provision to mitigate its impacts.

v.              Delegated authority to officers to make minor amendments to the reasons for refusal.

vi.            If an appeal is lodged against the decision to refuse this application, delegated authority to officers to negotiate and complete the Planning Obligations required in connection with this development.