Helpston housing application attracts opposition from Shailesh Vara Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire

Concerns that new homes could cramp the future development of a primary school have been backed by an MP.

C J Pettitt Transport plans to build 20 new homes on land next to John Clare Primary School in Helpston.

Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire Shailesh Vara and Peterborough city councillor David Over met residents in Helpston this month to hear their thoughts.

Peterborough City Council’s Local Plan says a development should provide a master plan for the whole site. This application does not and chairman of Helpston Parish Council, Joe Dobson, said this alone should mean the development is not approved.

Some residents were concerned about the potential loss of green space and that the houses, which would be next to the school playing fields, would block in the the school and prevent its growth.

Mr Vara said: “I am very concerned about this application. It should fail because it is contrary to the council’s local plan, which requires a master plan for the whole site, and this has not been submitted.

“There is also serious concern that if houses are built on this site, now or in the future, it would prevent the school from being able to expand.

“Given that the school is already over subscribed, I very much hope that Peterborough City Council and its planning department will think very carefully before putting pupils and the school in such a difficult situation.”

Coun Dobson added: “The parish council and a vast number of the community have written objecting to each iteration of the proposals and we are pleased to have the continued support of our MP, Shailesh Vara, who has taken a keen interest in this matter.”

The application 23/00118/OUT on the Peterborough City Council planning portal.