Plans to build 115 homes in Wilburton have been dropped after the developer failed to meet its own deadlines.
The application for Camp’s Field, off Stretham Road, met with a backlash from many in the village, despite the applicants’ claims the project was “community-led”.
It was put forward by Stretham and Wilburton Community Land Trust and Laragh Homes Development Ltd, and would have featured 80 homes for private sale and 35 Community Land Trust (CLT) affordable homes.
In a submission to East Cambridgeshire District Council in 2020, the applicants said it would provide residents “with a unique opportunity to play a lead role in shaping their village to meet their future needs”.
But 61 objections were lodged and a community group called ‘Save Wilburton from over development’ was formed. It argued the plans were “unwanted and unsupported” and had “been a plague” on the community.
In February, the group told the district council the applicants had “failed to provide evidence of general community support”, and said a Wilburton Parish Council survey found 135 of 179 respondents were opposed..
In February, the developer suggested a timetable for submitting further information required by the council.
However, earlier this month the council said it had not received any of this information.
A letter published by the authority said: “The period for decision making in this case has now expired and no appeal has been made to the Secretary of State.
“Accordingly, after April 26, 2024, it is my intention to finally dispose of the application in accordance with Article 40(13) of the order and take no further action on it.”
The council subsequently published formal confirmation the application had been “finally disposed of”.
